It’s been 32 years since the horrific murder of Stephen Lawrence in southeast London, as the eighteen-year-old was killed in an unprovoked, racially motivated attack.
In the years since, the tireless campaigning of his mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, has helped keep the spotlight on Stephen’s life and legacy – with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation aiming to fight racial inequality and advocate for a more inclusive society. To reflect on both Stephen’s memory, and the crucial work the foundation that bears his name is doing today, the London Eye will light up in orange tonight (April 22).
Credit: @sldayfdn, via IG
Every year on April 22 (the date of Stephen’s death), the Foundation celebrates Stephen’s legacy and the progress made towards fighting racism, promoting equality, and celebrating diversity. Though there is a still a long way to go, the steps made in recent years are shaping a better society for all, and on Stephen Lawrence Day, we have an opportunity to reflect on the work done and the work needed to do next.
To mark Stephen Lawrence Day this year, the foundation has today launched their Knowledge Changes Everything video on their socials as a means to reflect on his story and outline how the foundation’s work helps open doors for young people towards a brighter future.
In the video, we hear from Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who speaks on keeping his memory alive both for his family and inspiring young adults today, as well as from Eric Berete, Sehare Shezad, and Thomas Aquilina, beneficiaries of the foundation who speak on how its work has helped them work towards their dreams. You can watch the video in full below via YouTube, or check it out on the Stephen Lawrence Foundation’s Instagram page.
Year-round, the Foundation helps to create career opportunities for underrepresented communities, helping with scholarships and apprenticeships, the lighting up of the London Eye in orange (the colour of the Stephen Lawrence Foundation) recognises the work it carries it as well as remembering Stephen. Their video today outlines a core principle of the foundation: equipping young people with knowledge to work towards a more equal society to honour the legacy of Stephen Lawrence.
You can find out more about Stephen Lawrence Day, and the Foundation’s work, on their website. You can also donate to their JustGiving page to support the work carried out by the foundation.