Doreen Lawrence - Born 1952
British-Jamaican Justice Campaigner
If this list was to ever be ordered, most of us would put Doreen Lawrence near to or at the top.
Lee, A Wonderful Man
I would not know where to begin with ordering this collection of women but I would have to agree that this one is pretty stand-out wonderful. There are a number of women featured in the album who we might never have known of, if it were not for some terrible event. They would have just gone on with their lives in anonymity and we would be none the wiser of their existence. It is not that these women have endured a terrible event that makes them wonderful, it is how they reacted to it.
Doreen led a life that would be considered normal, she was a mother, a wife and she worked as a special needs teacher. On 22nd April 1993, Doreen's life changed for ever.
As he stood at a bus stop in London, her 19 year old son, Stephen, was attacked and murdered. He had not provoked his attackers, he was not a member of a gang... he just happened to be black. Stephen aspired to become an architect. His mother, Doreen, had so much hope for her son... to hear of him being racially abused, hurt and then left to bleed to death in the street... well, it is hard to comprehend such pain and grievance.
The tragedy of Stephen's story does not end there. Stephen's killers evaded justice for many years, the police made a catalogue of mistakes and oversights in the case. Instead of imploding with the grief of losing her child, Doreen fought tooth and nail for justice for Stephen. She strongly believed that institutional racism within the police force caused the investigation into the murder to be so incredibly flawed. It was she that gained the support of the then-Home Secretary, Jack Straw, and pushed for a public enquiry into Stephen's death. She and the rest of the Lawrence family, attempted to take those they believed to a private trial, having been failed by the magistrates court. And eventually, just last month after years of campaign, two of the boys who killed Stephen that night, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were eventually found guilty of the
Mr and Mrs Lawrence's campaign for the truth has been pursued by them with huge dignity, courage and determination.
Jack Straw
Doreen not only campaigned for justice for her own son, she has also worked on behalf of other parents whose children have been the victim of racial hate crimes. She has worked to improve race relations and understanding within the police force, securing much needed reform in the service and she continues to be selected to sit on panels with the police service and the Home Office. To create a positive legacy in Stephen's name, Doreen opened the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust which promotes social justice and provides access and opportunities.
It is because of them [the Lawrence family] frankly that we ended up with a public inquiry which has had the most massive impact on policing and beyond. I think it is perfectly possible we would not be exactly where we are today without the work they did.
Cressida Dick, Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police
In the midst of taking suggestions of women to add to the album, a number of people have said they would like to add their mum. My response to this has been to point out Doreen, who is here as an example of a wonderful mother, as well as one of the most wonderful of women.
If I could get my son back I would give up everything I have now, just to be what I was before: a quiet person, getting on with life.
Doreen Lawrence
No comments:
Post a Comment