Stephen Lawrence Day marked at council’s head office

April 22 is Stephen Lawrence Day, a National Day of Remembrance established in 2018 to commemorate Stephen, an 18-year-old with a bright future ahead of him who was tragically murdered in an unprovoked racist attack in 1993. Stephen was stabbed to death by a gang of five or six young white men. Only two of his killers were convicted in 2012.

The day is an opportunity to create a safe space for open and honest conversations about race and racism, the progress since Stephen’s tragic death and how we can inspire the younger generation to create a fairer society.

Three Rivers District Council joined the police and partners to mark Stephen Lawrence Day at the Rose Garden by the memorial rose bush that was planted in honour of Stephen in 2023, outside Three Rivers House in Rickmansworth. Attendees marked the day by observing a minute’s silence followed by a poem reading.

Kimberley Grout, Three Rivers District Council’s Associate Director for Corporate, Customer and Community, said: “It is incomprehensible that racism and inequality still exist in this world. But it does, and Stephen’s tragic murder is a stark reminder. We, along with our partners, continue to fight these injustices to ensure everyone in our communities, regardless of race, can continue to live safely without fear of hatred and discrimination.

“It is so important to remember Stephen Lawrence to serve as a reminder to the next generation that we all have a part to play in this fight, which we hope will inspire young people to strive for a more inclusive society.”

Three Rivers Chief Inspector Andrew Palfreyman said: “It’s important for us to always remember Stephen Lawrence and recognise the impact his tragic murder had on UK policing. We all have a part to play in challenging systemic racism and while Stephen’s legacy has brought about lasting change, we are under no illusion that there is more work to do. We will continue to learn about and understand the challenges facing our Black communities as we work to tackle racial discrimination in Three Rivers and Hertfordshire as a whole.”