Labi Siffre Issues Cease-and-Desist to Tommy Robinson Over Song Use at London Rally

Labi Siffre, the British singer-songwriter known for his 1987 anti-apartheid anthem '(Something Inside) So Strong,' has issued a cease-and-desist order to far-right activist Tommy Robinson for unauthorized use of the song at the "Unite the Kingdom" rally and in his social media posts. Siffre, an openly gay Black artist, expressed strong disapproval of Robinson's use of the song, highlighting the irony and inappropriateness given Robinson's anti-immigrant stance and the song's origins in the fight against apartheid and social injustice. The song, which was inspired by apartheid-era South Africa and regarded as one of Nelson Mandela's favorites, has traditionally symbolized resilience and hope among oppressed communities. Robinson had the song performed by a former X Factor contestant at the rally, which drew between 110,000 and 150,000 attendees, and used it to represent his movement, prompting Siffre to call out the copyright infringements and moral misuse. Siffre emphasized that the use of his work by Robinson's movement contradicts his identity and values as a positive atheist, homosexual Black artist and reaffirmed that despite the ease of digital theft, unauthorized use remains theft. The incident also mirrors similar objections from other artists whose music was co-opted by far-right groups without consent.