Friends and students of Martin Speake,

I don't know if you have heard about what has happened to our old friend and mentor Martin over the past few days, but if you have, please sign this open letter. Please also share it with anyone you know who has been taught by Martin.

Students of Martin Speake at Trinity, The Royal Academy, and The Guildhall are no longer attending his lessons in protest of an email he sent to the head of Trinity. This email was a response to a request for thoughts and experiences from students and staff regarding the Black Lives Matter Action Plan at Trinity Laban. His job is at risk. 

The email outlines his view that the jazz industry is not institutionally racist. It is claimed by a student, in an ever growing online petition, that this email has made black musicians feel unsafe at Trinity.

If you know Martin Speake, you will know that, despite his outspoken and sometimes eccentric beliefs, Martin is not racist in any way. Moreover, no person should be hounded out of forty five year career for expressing their honest opinion in private. 

Please sign in support of Martin at this difficult time - he has no support at Trinity as this crisis spirals out of control.