Ahead of Stephen Lawrence Day on Thursday 22th April 2021, today sees the launch of the “Never Forget Stephen Lawrence” campaign which brings together over 70 figures from the worlds of music, film, television, sport, politics and fashion in a 3 minute short film which will be launching in full later this month. The 60 second version of the film, which launched yesterday, features contributors (see below for the full list, who lent their time and voices to support the work of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation and to help shine a spotlight on the life and legacy of Stephen Lawrence.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence, founder of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation commented: “The events of 2020: – George Floyd’s death, and the subsequent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, along with societal inequalities exposed and exacerbated by COVID has made us reflect on how we engage with our communities. This brought a sharp focus on what I want to be achieved in Stephen’s name. I want Stephen Lawrence Day to be a reflective learning experience, and a celebration and a journey toward greater equality and inclusion for all.”
“Never Forget Stephen Lawrence” will have a national media campaign beginning today and leading up to Stephen Lawrence Day which is marked officially in the British calendar every 22nd April, commemorating the anniversary of Stephen’s death. The day is an opportunity to celebrate Stephen’s life, to educate young people about the significance of his legacy and highlight the ongoing work of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation – the charity founded by Stephen’s mother Hon. Baroness Lawrence.
In “Never Forget Stephen Lawrence” the contributors are filmed reciting the powerful poem narrated by Max Cyrus. Cyrus’ idea for the newly edited film was to bring together the people he felt Stephen would have watched, listened to and been inspired by, had he been alive today, alongside figures who help to promote diversity and inclusion within British society and who have been key champions throughout the family’s 28-year fight for justice.
Hon Stuart Lawrence, brother of Stephen Lawrence commented: “I hope that the film and campaign will inspire and enthuse the next generation of young people to understand their self value and contributions that they can make for their families and the community at large no matter what they look like or where they start in life, it’s about where they finish.”
The film is part of a programme of events organised by the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, which on the day itself will include morning Assemblies with Ambassador schools; a series of webinars with partners such as Community Union and a Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation Exhibition that will be displayed throughout Brixton Village as the only physical representation for the day. There are also some planned announcements for several significant partnerships for the Foundation and its initiatives.
Stephen Lawrence was murdered on 22 April 1993, at the age of 18, in an unprovoked racist attack.
