Stephen Lawrence Day: A Legacy of Change

The first Stephen Lawrence Day was celebrated in 2019 and takes place annually on the 22nd April, the date of Stephen’s death. The day commemorate the life of the 18-year-old who was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack almost 30 years ago.

On this important day we must reflect on the part we all play in creating a society in which everyone can flourish and show our solidarity with families across the world who have lost a love one to racism.

It is an opportunity for children and young people to have their voices heard, make the changes they’d like to see and create a society that treats everyone with fairness and respect.

"I make a note of this day in my diary every year so that I can personally reflect on its significance," said Lorraine Donovan, Equalities and Diversity Manager at Birmingham Children's Trust.

"Stephen's death was a catalyst for change in the UK and brought into the spotlight issues around racial injustice, race discrimination and corruption in the police. If you do one thing today please commit to educate your children, friends, colleagues and families."

Today the Library of Birmingham will join the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre and many libraries across the UK in honour of Stephen by turning orange.

The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre in Leicester aims to drive forward conversations that will shape and influence how we think about race and social justice. It intends to honour the enduring legacy of Stephen Lawrence’s life and his family’s ongoing pursuit of justice by asking new questions, debating critical issues, raising awareness, and advocating to bring about positive change.

• This BBC documentary, details the murder of Stephen Lawrence, killed by a gang of white teenagers in a racially-motivated unprovoked attack in London in 1993. It focuses on Stephen’s mother Doreen, who has fought for justice for her son for over a quarter of a century, in a case that saw her son’s murderers walk free.