Young participants in this year’s Leeds West Indian Carnival have joined forces with the police to create innovative costumes inspired by the police that add to the carnival’s rich legacy.
One of the joys of living in Harehills and Chapeltown is the annual carnival, which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend. It’s a cacophony of joy, passion, culture and history, and it leaves a mark.
It’s communities coming together. Thousands upon thousands of people over the long weekend will visit Potternewton park to enjoy music and food and comradery, and then again thousands of people will line the streets of Harehills and Chapeltown to see the fantastic costumes, talented and seemingly tireless dancers.
And it is in the spirit of that coming together that the police joined a group of young people as they designed and prepared their costume. A lot of work goes into the costumes featured in the carnival, and to the designers, makers, and wearers (which may be one, or several people working on a costume), each one means something.
In designing the costumes, young people had to really think about the roles of the police in our community, what powers they yield, and importantly how they yield.
Harehills ❤️ Love 
Leave a comment