Memorial service honours Stephen Lawrence
A memorial service has been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Poll: 'Met still racist' 20 years after Lawrence death
Twenty years after Stephen Lawrence's death, an exclusive poll reveals perceptions of attitudes towards race in the Metropolitan Police.
Stephen Lawrence murder probe still open, say detectives
The Stephen Lawrence murder investigation remains open- twenty years after he was killed.
Live updates
Rizzle Kicks hope concert will explain issues to a younger generation
Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens, one half of the Rizzle Kicks, said the concert would help explain Stephen Lawrence's murder and the events surrounding it to a younger generation like them who were not born or were very young when he died.
He said he hoped it would help challenge negative mindsets both in the black community and the wider public.
"What I love especially about this charity and trust is the whole idea of being able to achieve something that you wouldn't ordinarily think you could do," he said.
He added: "A lot of statistics are made based on the fact that some youths are convinced they can't do something they are very capable of doing."
He also spoke of an incident when he was on a school visit to Chichester, where a woman had assumed because he spoke eloquently that he went to a private school, and was surprised to find he went to a state school in London.
"It upset me that a woman would question intelligence base on my skin colour," he said.
"It would make me more happy than anything for there to be no question about whether race correlated with intelligence, drive or motivation.
"Stephen was an example and the idea is to build as many of those examples as possible for those judgmental idiots."
Stephen's death had big impact on me, says Sande
Multi-award winning Scottish singer Sande said that Stephen Lawrence's murder and Mrs Lawrence's subsequent campaigning had had a bid impact on her family.
"I was quite young when it happened but coming from a mixed-race family it was a big issue that we spoke about, and (we also spoke about) the issues you face being mixed race and this being something that happened in our country.
"It had a big impact on my family and all the work Doreen has done has felt very empowering - that you can speak out about these things and changes can be made if you are brave enough to stand up."
Advertisement
Mother criticises government for not supporting Lawrence charity
Mrs Lawrence said the money raised by the concert would help her foundation, which has struggled for funding in recent years, to continue its work for another 20 years.
Speaking after the launch event at Abbey Road studios, she said that she would like to see the Government provide more funding.
She said they had received some emergency funding from the Home Office, but added "we shouldn't have to do that".
"We shouldn't have to think 'that's just a one-off'. They should look to continue to do it," she said.
"They have seen the work that we do, they have seen the progress we have made, they have seen all the opportunities that young people have had since they have been at the Stephen Lawrence Centre.
"I think that should be something that makes them say: 'Ok, we want to support an organisation like you, you can make a difference to so many young lives, get them off the streets, get them into education, get them into a profession.'
"That is what I would like to see the Government do a lot more of."
Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Emeli Sande will perform
The O2 event will raise funds for a trust set up in Stephen Lawrence's name to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Plan B, Jamie Cullum, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Ed Sheeran are also among the stars taking part in the show on September 29 designed to champion young people.
Stephen's mother, Doreen Lawrence, who founded the trust, said: "We work every day to empower youth and we're so proud that the music industry is joining us in reaching out to change the lives of young people.
"I want young people to feel inspired, be confident and have hope in their own future.
"There have been a further 106 racist murders since Stephen was killed 20 years ago and there are still too many young people who do not have a sense of hope."
Stephen was 18 when he was stabbed in a racist attack in Eltham, south east London, in April 1993. Two men - Gary Dobson and David Norris - were found guilty of the murder last year and the police investigation still remains "live".
The Metropolitan Police were criticised for their handling of the initial investigation and, as a result, the force was judged to be institutionally racist in a subsequent public inquiry.
The show, Unity: A Concert For Stephen Lawrence, has been backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson. Artists also include Rudimental and Soul II Soul.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday at www.aeglive.co.uk.
Lawrence killer loses appeal
One of the men jailed for murdering Stephen Lawrence has lost a bid to challenge his conviction today.
Three judges at the Court of Appeal rejected an application brought by David Norris.
Gary Dobson, the second man jailed for murdering the black teenager, had previously dropped his appeal.
Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death in Eltham in 1993.
Fresh appeal over Stephen Lawrence murder
Police have released an image of a man they want to talk to about the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Twenty years after the teenager was killed there's still hope that witnesses who didn't come forward at the time, will now, leading to more convictions in the case.
Advertisement
20 years on, police want witnesses to come forward
Police will launch a fresh appeal for witnesses to the murder of Stephen Lawrence 20 years since the attack on Crimewatch tonight.
Stephen was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London in 1993.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of his murder last year and jailed for life after a forensic review of the case found significant new scientific evidence on clothing seized from their homes. But the case remains open.
Police hope that by walking viewers through the events again they may persuade witnesses to come forward.
Mother: We owe it to Stephen to catch all of his killers
Tonight's edition of Crimewatch will include an interview with Stephen Lawrence's mother, Doreen, who has campaigned tirelessly for justice over the attack.
She says that, even 20 years on, the justice system owes it to Stephen to "make sure that all of his killer's are ... caught".
Met: We have always known there were others involved
– DCI Clive Driscoll, metropolitan policeAlthough two individuals are serving a life sentence in connection with this murder, we have always known there were other people involved in the attack ...
It is hoped this appeal will assist with our inquiries.
We believe there were people in the area that night who may have seen something. Not the murder itself necessarily but events or individuals leading up to the event.
I am taking this opportunity to appeal directly to those people to come forward and speak to us. You may think you won't remember something from so long ago, but we would still implore you to come forward.
Police believe witnesses have not yet come forward
Police believe there were a number of individuals close to the scene of Stephen Lawrence's murder in Eltham in 1993 who have not yet come forward.
In particular they are interested in speaking to:
- Two men who got off a bus at the stop opposite where Stephen was attacked and walked southbound along the east side of Well Hall Road.
- A man who ran from the area of Well Hall Road roundabout to the bus stop on the same side as the attack (west side).
- Anyone else in the general vicinity; such as those outside The Coronet Cinema and on passing buses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8310. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Today's top stories
