Sadiq Khan: A tragedy that should still inspire us to fight racism

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Macpherson Report into the handling of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. The report, which found the Metropolitan police to be institutionally racist, was a landmark moment in the history of race relations in our country. It had a transformative effect on policing and on how we view discrimination and prejudice across society.

I was 22 when Stephen Lawrence was killed. We both grew up in south London and his murder deeply affected me, my family and my friends and sent shockwaves through London’s diverse communities. It shaped our understanding of injustice and inequality and confirmed just how deep racism can run if left unchecked.

The London that my two daughters have grown up in is better than the one I experienced, growing up a stone’s throw from where they have. That’s why, as Londoners, we owe such a huge debt of gratitude to Doreen Lawrence, the Lawrence family and all those who supported them in their tireless struggle to get justice for Stephen. Thanks to their courage in the face of adversity, the Macpherson inquiry led to crucial laws and policies being changed for the better.

Yet while there’s no doubt that great progress has been made, the job is far from finished. There can be no room for complacency. We need to keep affirming and implementing the actions identified in the Macpherson Report and continue to root out racism, discrimination and inequality from our public institutions and society as a whole. I’ve spent my whole adult life fighting injustice and discrimination, and I’m not about to stop now.

I’m proud of our hard-working and committed police. In recent years — under extraordinarily difficult circumstances and tight financial constraints — they have demonstrated time and again their incredible bravery, professionalism and commitment to keeping us safe. But we still have much more to do to build trust and understanding between the police and London’s diverse communities. That’s why we must continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to racism and discrimination within the Met.

While there has been progress over the past 20 years, I’m working with the Commissioner to go further so we can create a police service that is as diverse as the communities it serves.

Two decades on, Baroness Lawrence’s greatest achievement was convincing many in my generation that a better London was possible. So, on this anniversary, we must all resolve to meet the challenges we still face with a new sense of urgency.

This includes redoubling our efforts to root out the racism and inequality, giving young people of all backgrounds the opportunities they need for a brighter future, and reminding all young Londoners that progress is possible.