Britain’s top black weekly ISSUE NO. 1879 | APRIL 18 - 24, 2019

‘Together, Go veggie we can this Easter beat knife crime’ See our Rally calls for united special response to feature www.voice-online.co.uk £1.00 violence Tiger on the prowl Woods’ success inspires new generation of golf fans STEPHEN LAWRENCE: A LEGACY OF HOPE Ahead of the first Stephen Lawrence Day, his mother, Doreen, tellsThe Voice that she wants it to inspire young people

EXCLUSIVE PASSIONATE: Baroness By Vic Motune Doreen Lawrence says she wants young people to be inspired by her late S BRITAIN gets ready to mark son, Stephen Lawrence the inaugural Stephen Law- rence Day, his mother, Baron- A ess Doreen Lawrence, has told The Voice she wants Stephen’s legacy to encourage young people to have an impact on their local communities. Last year Prime Minister announced that a national day of com- memoration for murdered teenager Ste- phen Lawrence will take place annually on April 22 every year. The news was announced as his fami- ly attended the 25th anniversary memo- rial service marking his death in 2018. CHANGED The 18-year-old was stabbed to death in a racially motivated attack in Eltham, south London, in 1993. Speaking exclusively to The Voice, Baroness Lawrence said that Ste- phen’s legacy had changed the nation. But she said she wanted the day to challenge young people to create their own legacies by getting involved in their local communities and chal- lenging elected officials on issues they cared about. She said: “Through Stephen’s name, the campaign for justice, the court case that followed and the laws that were changed in his name, the country is closer to what it should be – a better place for all people to live in, and espe- cially for young people growing up. “Hence the day should help them to start focusing on themselves, what it is they would like to see changed in soci- ety and what’s happening within their community so they can live their best lives.”

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HOPE: Baroness Lawrence looks over a LAWRENCE creative project undertaken by young visitors to the new Stephen DAY AIMS TO Lawrence Research Centre; below, school pupils look over some of the archive GIVE YOUTH material at the centre THEIR VOICE Stephen Lawrence’s mother says his memory will inspire young people and help them to achieve their goals – and make the world a better place

“If you think about what Over the years Baroness marked is a culmination of a EXCLUSIVE by Vic Motune stitutional racism, denials of “What are their aspirations? justice and the psychology of How do they live their lives happened around the Brexit Lawrence has won praise for consistent campaign for jus- referendum for example young her resilient campaigning and tice. However, she was keen to Continued from page 1 racial violence. within their communities? Speaking about the Leices- How do they challenge things people were not allowed to tireless dedication to commu- praise those that had supported nity action, anti-racism and her. As well as the April 22 event, ter event, she said: “Seeing that they see around them? have a voice. other causes close to her heart. “The projects that will be another significant day for the the young people today, it just What is it that they think they “There are many 16- and 17-year-olds who would prob- part of Stephen Lawrence Day Lawrence family will be the gives me a little bit more hope can make better? This is what OPPORTUNITIES launch of the Stephen Law- about where we see our young just reinforce all the things rence Research Centre on May people and how they can move Despite being devastated by I’ve been working on over the 9 at forward in life. “I see it as something that will grief following Stephen’s mur- years. (DMU) in , where Bar- der she and Stephen’s father “To get to this point now, LEGACY oness Lawrence is chancellor. encourage young people to Neville founded the Stephen which is not something I Last week, she welcomed “They’ve looked at some of Lawrence Charitable Trust in thought I’d ever get to back in more than 100 secondary the work Stephen did when he address things they care about” 1998, with the aim of pro- 1993 – I never had a plan. school-age pupils from six was a cub, the certificates he moting a positive community “But over the years, through Leicestershire schools to a first won doing drawings or run- legacy in their son’s name, all the work that’s been done ably have voted but were not look inside the new centre on ning or whatever. And that’s the day will focus on. one that would ensure future I’ve always said it’s not just the DMU campus. encouraged them to start “But I don’t just see it as given that opportunity. generations of young people me. The Stephen Lawrence Re- thinking about their own lives something limited to one day. “But this is an issue that is would be given opportunities “Yes, I may have been the search Centre will also act as and what they would like to It’s an initiative that will hap- going to affect their lives. I that were denied to Stephen. driving force for a lot of things, a home to archive material see as their legacy. pen right across the coming have a grand-daughter who is The trust has had a signifi- but without other people work- donated by Baroness Lawrence “This is the first year of the year at schools, youth centres 14 and she is very opinionated. cant positive impact on the ing and helping me to get to about Stephen’s life, his fam- Stephen Lawrence Day and I across the country. I want Ste- “She has her views and her lives of the young people it has where I am now, it would nev- ily’s campaign for justice, the see it as something that will phen Lawrence Day to be an views are valid and that’s what worked with. er have happened. court case, the inquiry and the encourage young people to event that encourages young we need to listen to sometimes Baroness Lawrence was “Who would have thought subsequent Macpherson report. address the things they care people to keep pushing them- because young people have awarded an OBE for services to almost 26 years ago that we It will also research the his- about, articulate their voices selves forward.” valid views. You feel some- community relations in 2003 would be here now talking tories of black and minority and their concerns and talk She added: “It is very impor- times that politicians are wag- and was made a life peer in about the Stephen Lawrence ethnic communities in the UK, about how they see themselves tant that young people’s views ging their fingers saying, ‘We the House of Lords in 2013. Day and the legacy of Ste- the politics and practice of in- and their futures. should not be overlooked. know best’.” The fact that the day will be phen?” Windrush victim treatment a disgrace, admits Lidington DEPUTY PRIME Minister David Lid- compensation after being denied cancer “In saying that compensation ‘depends ington has called into question the treatment, Mr Lidington, pictured inset, on each individual case’, David Liding- Government’s policy on capping com- said “clearly on the account you’ve giv- ton has directly contradicted the Gov- pensation for victims of the Windrush en to me, that was a disgrace”. ernment’s woefully inadequate policy scandal. Sajid Javid had previ- announced by Sajid Javid just this week. Presented with the Government’s ously said there would be ‘no limit’ to INJUSTICE proposed compensation figures the amount of money that could on The Andrew Marr Show, be paid to victims of the Win- “Thanks to the hostile environment Mr Lidington contradicted drush scandal, but this week created by the Conservatives, British the approach set out plans that included citizens have been wrongly deported, to setting compensation caps on compensation. prevented from returning home, denied amounts, saying: “I think it In addition to Mr Liding- cancer treatment and vital healthcare, depends on each individual ton’s comments, Diane Ab- and lost their jobs. Now, a year on from case and I’m sure if there’s bott MP, Labour’s shadow the scandal, they are being offered a pit- evidence of injustice, that is home secretary, said: “This tance, after having their lives torn apart. something that home office min- admission by the Deputy Prime “It’s not acceptable and does not go isters will look at”. Minister that the compensation of- nearly far enough to try to remedy the When asked if it was a disgrace that fered to a victim of Theresa May’s hostile injustice and hardship members of the a victim of the Windrush scandal, Al- environment is a ‘disgrace’ should be a Windrush Generation have faced at the bert Thompson, could be given just £500 wake-up call for this Government. hands of Theresa May’s Government.”