Southall Black Sisters is supporting Dr Richard Stone’s book ‘Hidden Stories of the Lawrence Inquiry’ which is being presented at Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College, Southall campus. The event is led by Dr Richard Stone OBE, panel member of the Macpherson Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence and throws a light onto reasons Dr Stone considers have undermined the Inquiry and weakening the reports long-term impact.

This year marks 20 years of Steven’s brutal murder. Dr Stone’s book is a unique opportunity to read about the failings of the police and the revelations of the extent of institutionalised racism within the police force. The event is also supported by the Monitoring Group, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, National Black Police Association, Association of Black Probation Staff and RESPECT

“Still pursuing the agenda of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry…”

West London community anti-racist groups invite you to a discussion with Dr. Richard Stone. On ways forward by a reading from his recently published book of “Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry”.

Thursday 3rd July 2014
Room V202 Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College Southall Campus Middlesex UB1 1DP

Download: Hidden Stories Flyer West London 3rd July 2014
Download: Hidden Stories West London –  Background and Programme – 3rd July 2014
Download: SouthallMap

The event is led by Dr. Richard Stone OBE, panel member of the Macpherson Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence. The event is supported by the following organisations; The Monitoring Group, Southall Black Sisters, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, National Black Police Association, Association of Black Probation Staff and RESPECT. Map and directions are also attached.

Personal Note from Dr. Richard Stone OBE

For the final event, I have decided to include in the invitation list to West London, everyone invited to the visits in the last year to Bristol, Birmingham, East London, Manchester and Bradford. My reasons for extending the invitation is to highlight several new ways identified from each of the visits, on how people have successfully addressed discrimination on grounds of race.

Hearing those ideas washed away the depression I felt when confronted with the reality that the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry’s method has failed. That method was that you get acknowledgement of ‘institutional racism’ from those at the top, and then change will follow.

However for a bunch of reasons which I now see and understand, significant change from the top has occurred so rarely that we have to accept that the word ‘racism’ is too emotionally loaded. Few people have the courage and the emotional maturity to acknowledge it.

I had thought that addressing institutional racism in a package of improving all-round professionalism was a weakening of determination to deal with issues around racism. However, I have found that doing it in that way works, and it was voted for unanimously at all five of my meetings in the last year.

After the 3rd July event, my researcher, Dr. Nadia Habashi will put together the final report on the six visits. So we will value input from as many colleagues as possible who have been involved in this process, or in my activities in other ways.

All the best to us all in the struggle.
Dr. Richard Stone OBE

Photograph: by Colin Patterson from Hidden Stories website