Remembering Stephen Lawrence
Published: 19/04/2021
Stephen Lawrence Day is held on 22 April each year to commemorate the life of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1993.
At a service to mark the 25th anniversary of Stephen’s death in 2018, then prime minister Theresa May announced that Stephen Lawrence Day would become an annual national commemoration.
Marking this day every year – the day that Stephen died – will help keep the focus on racial inequality and celebrate efforts to remove it. The Day will also be a celebration of everything that Stephen was and could have become, and it will celebrate what is being achieved in his name.
Stephen Lawrence’s mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE
'Silence is not an option'
To commemorate Stephen Lawrence, and support NTU’s commitment to recognise Black History all year-round, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team is hosting an event, ‘Silence is not an Option’, on Thursday 22 April at 1 pm, which is open to all colleagues and students. Stephen’s brother, The Right Honourable Stuart Lawrence, will be our special guest and speaker at this event.
The title of the event has been inspired by Stuart Lawrence’s upcoming book ‘Silence is Not An Option: You can impact the world for change’. In the book Stuart shares his inspiration and lists the people who have inspired him, including John Barnes, Nelson Mandela and his brother Stephen, who he says ‘set the bar’ as a role model. Stuart says:
‘He was a super-cool guy and I always try to emulate him. Lots of adults think I’m going to say, ‘life is bad because Stephen died’, but I explain that my life took a path at that point, then show all the positives that came later. If I can shape hearts and minds, I want to show that we should all like each other at some level. We are all human beings.’
What do you choose not to be silent about?
In support of this event and of Stuart Lawrence’s book, we’d like to hear your thoughts on what you won’t be silent about.
You can send a video or a written statement and an image answering these questions:
1.What should we learn from the Stephen Lawrence case?
2.How has the resilience of Stephen Lawrence’s family inspired you to stand up for justice?
3.What do you choose not to be silent about?
Please submit your video or statement to the EDI team by 9 April 2021.
By submitting your content, you’ll be giving NTU consent and permission to use it in the activities related to Stephen Lawrence Day.
What led to Stephen Lawrence Day becoming a national day?
| Date | Events |
|---|---|
| 13 September 1974 | Stephen Lawrence is born to a loving family and community. |
| 22 April 1993 | Stephen Lawrence is murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. |
| 06 May 1993 | The Lawrence family meet Nelson Mandela. |
| September 1994 | A private prosecution is launched by Stephen’s parents against three suspects. It fails in April 1996. |
| July 1997 | A public enquiry is announced to look into the killing and subsequent police investigation. |
| February 1999 | Macpherson report published. It accuses the Metropolitan Police of institutional racism and makes 70 recommendations, many aimed at improving police attitudes to racism. |
| April 2005 | Double jeopardy is scrapped. The legal principle prevented suspects being tried twice for the same crime. |
| February 2008 | Doreen Lawrence opens the £10m Stephen Lawrence Centre in honour of her son. |
| November 2011 | The trial of Gary Dobson and David Norris begins at the Old Bailey. Both men are found guilty of the murder of Stephen Lawrence and are given life sentences. |
| 22 April 2018 | National day announced by Prime Minister Theresa May to commemorate Stephen Lawrence’s life. Stephen Lawrence Day will be celebrated every year on 22 April. |
As we reflect on Stephen's death at a bus stop in south London, we should also remember the 25 other murders that did not register so loud. If the memory of Stephen Lawrence means anything, it means the memory of all those killed in racially motivated attacks in Britain since 1991.
Where can I learn more?
- Stephen: The Murder that Changed a Nation (BBC 3-part documentary)
- The Murder of Stephen Lawrence (TV Movie 1999)
- Macpherson Report 1999
- Nicola Rollock, Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 Years On: A Critical Review of the Literature
- Stephen Lawrence Research Centre
- Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation