10 years after Lawrence murder, 'racism no better'

The mother of Stephen Lawrence, the black teenager murdered in a racist attack almost 10 years ago, was today addressing a major conference.

Doreen Lawrence was to tell the Unite Against Racism conference in London that vicious racist attacks in Eltham, south-east London, where her son was killed, are on the rise and that racism must be tackled head on.

She was being joined on the platform by the general secretary of the TGWU Bill Morris, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and TUC general secretary-elect Brendan Barber for the opening session of the conference called Ten Years On: Remember Stephen Lawrence.

She said: “Almost 10 years after the murder of my son, I am saddened to say that not a lot has changed.

“There has been an increase in vicious racist attacks in Eltham, where my son was murdered, and in other parts of south east London.

“The number of racist incidents nationally has also increased in the last year and there are constant excuses as to why perpetrators are not systematically brought to justice. The only way to deal with racism is to tackle it head on.”

Lee Jasper, secretary of the National Assembly Against Racism, said: “At a time when this country is about to go to war, against the backdrop of virulent attacks on Muslim communities and asylum seekers, a generalised increase in racist attacks on black people and the emergence of BNP into the democratic process, the need for action and unity against racism has never been so urgent.

“There needs to be maximum unity between trade unions, churches, black and Asian communities and all others to act proactively to stem the tide of racism.”