Welcoming the announcement by government that 23 August is adopted as the National Slavery Memorial Day, NAAR Executive Committee member Kofi Klu said: "This is a huge victory for the anti-racist movement who has been
campaigning for many years for the recognition of the horrors of the
Transatlantic Slave Trade and the ensuing colonisation as well as the
resistence to both. The challenge now is to build on this victory and ensure
that the commemorations of a Memorial Day advance the continuing anti-racist struggle. It is also very important to highlight victories whilst finding
new ways to surmount obstacles in the struggle against racism."
The Government has announced that they will adopt 23 August - UNESCO's day for the International Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - as the focal date for national commemorations in the future and groups looking to mark the date will be able to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council England for support. The Government has also announced that the history and impact of the slave trade will become a compulsory element in schools from next September.
This is a link to the CLG press notice:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/607662
This is a link to a bicentenary end of year booklet which has also been
published. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/603189
The booklet looks at the way that communities, towns and cities (including a section on London), churches and the Government have commemorated the anniversary. It also looks forward to the work that needs to be done, outlining some of the action the Government are taking to tackle these issues today.