A powerful spoken-word short film Never Forget Stephen Lawrence, featuring over 50 names in entertainment and politics released today, as part of a national media campaign to highlight the day and the tireless work of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (SLDF).
Scripted, narrated and filmed by poet, artist, music producer and songwriter Max Cyrus, ‘Never Forget Stephen Lawrence’ has been shared across social media and television today in commemoration of Stephen Lawrence Day and in honour of the work of SLDF.
Directed Simon Frederick the film features the likes of of Lewis Hamilton, Idris Elba, Ed Sheeran, Maya Jama, Mahalia, Benjamin Zephaniah, Beverley Knight, David Lammy, Goldie, Fekky, DJ Spoony, Denise Lewis, Mahalia, Keir Starmer, Ian Wright, Celestem Georgia Curtis, Noel Clarke, Anne Marie, Alex Beresford and more.
Stephen Lawrence Day was first celebrated in 2019 and takes place annually on 22 April, the date of Stephen’s death. The day is marked officially in the British calendar as a celebration of Stephen’s life and legacy. The Foundation, was established amid unprecedented growing global awareness of racial inequality, exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK.
Speaking on the project and Stephen Lawrence, Max Cyrus states, “Having an official Stephen Lawrence Day gives us an opportunity to learn about our own history and educate young people on the impact Stephen Lawrence’s death had and still has on us today. For me it is always important to highlight how his tragic death has led to a change in unfair policies and given us an opportunity to realign in society. The project was written and narrated by myself and features key members from our society as a way of highlighting the importance of the SLDF.”
Watch the short film here:
To mark Stephen Lawrence Day, TikTok is hosting a series of activities across the platform, in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, including a LIVE memorial concert hosted by DJ & presenter Yinka Bokinni, featuring a live poetry reading from Max Cyrus and performances by The Compozers, Ray BLK and Alicai Harley.
Led by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation has been working tirelessly with stakeholders in education, business, and government to develop a framework that will become the bedrock of the foundation’s future work. This year’s Stephen Lawrence Day highlights the ongoing work needed to be done for long term racial equality, especially following the release of the government’s controversial Race Report, and the global media coverage of the recent trial of Derek Chauvin, having been found guilty of murdering George Floyd.
