Lawrence family honoured for racism struggle

Stephen Castle
Thursday 19 October 2000 00:00 BST
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Doreen and Neville Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in 1993 and whose murderers have yet to be brought to justice, have been named Europeans of the Year in honour of their struggle against racism.

Doreen and Neville Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in 1993 and whose murderers have yet to be brought to justice, have been named Europeans of the Year in honour of their struggle against racism.

The Lawrences yesterday received the Solidar Silver Rose award in Brussels, which was also given to campaigners for media freedom in Yugoslavia, for their contributions to European society.

Glenys Kinnock, a Labour MEP and a member of the award's judging panel, praised the couple's six-year campaign for justice and described the police investigation into the death of their son as "deeply flawed and deficient".

She said: "The subsequent [Macpherson] report has had wide-ranging implications into how the police and courts deal with racially motivated crimes, giving evidence of institutional racism in the police force."

Doreen Lawrence said she was "overwhelmed" at the honour, adding that the international nature of the prize was a recognition that the fight against injustice was global.

She added that, during recent years, she felt as if her life had been "on hold" and described her constant struggle to ensure that her other children "were not overshadowed by what happened to Stephen".

Neville Lawrence said that he still found it hard "to wake up every morning and know that the people we believe are responsible for killing our son are walking around... If a person has committed a crime they should pay for it," he said.

The European of the Year award was presented for the first time by Solidar, an independent international group of non-governmental organisations which are involved in areas including the provision of social services, humanitarian aid and in furthering international co-operation.

The jury cited as its reason for choosing the Lawrences "the determination of these ordinary citizens to battle against racist-based opposition".

Giampiero Alhadeff, the secretary general of Solidar, said: "It is people like Doreen and Neville Lawrence who fight for all of us and, through their bravery, turn thoughts of human rights and justice into practical reality for everyone."

A second Silver Rose award was given to the project Media For Democracy, which has been struggling for freedom of the press, particularly in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.

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