Around 350 people packed the TUC conference centre on Saturday 22nd
February, to mark the tenth anniversary year of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Speakers including Stephen Lawrence's mother Doreen Lawrence, TGWU General
Secretary Bill Morris, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and TUC General Secretary
elect Brendan Barber highlighted the lack of progress in the implementation
of the Lawrence Report recommendations. Plenaries and workshops discussed
responses to the alarming rise of racism in particular the rise in racism
towards the Muslim community and asylum seekers in the context of impending
war against Iraq. Family campaigns highlighted their experiences of institutional
racism and the urgency of fighting against the advances made by the BNP was
the subject of a plenary and a workshop.
Doreen Lawrence raised concerns that since David Blunkett had become
Home Secretary 'the government has lost interest on race'. She said that ten
years on some things had changed but progress was too slow and urged people
to find ways to challenge the government over this. TUC general secretary
elect, Brendan Barber stressed importance of the trade union
movement responding to the threat posed by the BNP. NAAR secretary Lee
Jasper echoed concerns about demonising asylum seekers and linking
them to terrorist attacks, pointing out that the last three terrorist bombs
in London had in fact been carried out by a fascist against the black and
lesbian and gay communities.
A statement from Mal Hussain, the Lancaster shopkeeper, reminded
the conference that after twelve years of 'living hell' and 4,000 separate
racist attacks - none of the authorities have yet delivered justice.
Cllr Mohammed Azam from Oldham led the discussion on perhaps
the most urgent strand running through the day - the need to defeat the BNP.
He underlined the need for support in the coming months run up to May's local
election where the BNP are up for re-election in Burnley; and flagged up next
year's battle in all-out elections in Oldham and elsewhere.
Click below for speeches from the day:
Bill Morris,
General Secretary TGWU
Ken Livingstone,
Mayor of London
Harry Cohen MP
Billy Hayes,
General Secretary CWU
Delroy Lindo
Dr Kamlesh Bahl CBE