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Stephen
Lawrence Task Group |
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| Reports |
Neville Lawrence The
fight for justice led by the family and friends of the murdered teenager,
Stephen Lawrence, has won enormous respect and admiration. Their struggle
marks a watershed in race relations in Britain. No organisation can ignore
the findings of the McPherson Report in the death of Stephen Lawrence.
Trade unions have worked closely with Neville Lawrence and the campaign.
The South West TUC was delighted and honoured to have Neville speak to
this conference. Neville
explained that the family had done a lot but they couldn’t do it all. He
joined a union when he first arrived in Britain. Unions have got to go out
and win new blood and Neville was pleased that they were doing just that.
We have to be united. “One hand washes the other” as his grandmother
used to say. “My son wouldn’t kill a fly, he treated everyone with
respect.” Neville described his experiences working as a plasterer and
earning the respect of wealthy employers. “If
you want something, you have to fight for it”, Neville said. He hoped
that change will come from the death of Stephen because he doubted that
any conviction would now happen. He explained the disbelief that followed
his death. Neville was working as a counsellor to help people after
similar tragedies. He answered questions over changing the system, the
lack of black history in schools, the difference between racism and
fascism, the role of violence and the pressures he is under. After
lunch the Conference saw a short video produced by Comic Relief as part of
the campaign to drop the debts on third world countries. A performance was
then given by URIA Drummers - Universal Rastafari Improvement Association.
This group of African drummers has been formed professionally for two
years. The seven members, aged between nine and fifteen, have played
together through their family links for several years and now rehearse
weekly at the Kuumba project in St Paul's. | |
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