For three days in April, 1963, there was a bloody incident that reflected Jamaican society’s widespread prejudice against Rastafarians. The Coral Gardens skirmish in St. James parish between police and Rastafarians resulted in the loss of eight lives. It is recalled in We Will Rise, a song by V Merchant and Sizzla. Released in May, the single is written and produced by V Merchant, a Jamaican singer who has lived in Canada for over 25 years. He learned about the horrors of Coral Gardens from Rasta elders who were involved and injured in the standoff. The power of their stories made such an impact on him, he wrote We Will Rise. “My intention was never to get a hit song but to educate the world about the untold history of Jamaica,” he said. “We Will Rise inspires hope, dreams and possibilities.”
Educating through music is among V Merchant’s priorities. War Zone, one of his previous songs, addresses the May, 2010 West Kingston incursion that saw over 70 persons killed. The fighting at Coral Gardens actually started on Holy Thursday. It intensified on Good Friday which influenced Rastafarians to dub the standoff, ‘Bad Friday’. Three Rastafarians, two police officers and three civilians died in the hostilities. In its aftermath, scores of Rastas were rounded up by police who cut their locks. In late 1964, two Rastafarians were hanged for their involvement in the incident. V Merchant is from Trelawny parish which neighbors St. James. He has been recording for 15 years.
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