A national commemoration of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence is to take place on April 22 each year, Prime Minister Theresa May announces.

It will be known as Stephen Lawrence Day.

The announcement comes on the 25th anniversary of the death of the 18-year-old, who was stabbed to death by a racist gang.

A memorial of Lawrence's life and legacy is taking place today.

Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle are joining Lawrence's family and other notable figures at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Central London for the event.

The young murder victim was attacked in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993.

Two of the group of up to six assailants are serving life sentences for the racially-motivated killing.

Three other men have consistently been accused of the killing but never convicted.

A sixth gang member was thought to be involved in the attack.

The murder of the teenager has become a watershed moment in modern race relations in the UK.

Duwayne Brooks, who was with Lawrence during the attack, says he heard the group yell racially abusive language before launching their violent assault on his friend.

A report into the case concluded the police made mistakes and were guilty of "institutional racism". </s> The life and legacy of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence will be celebrated every year on April 22, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced.

The announcement of "Stephen Lawrence Day" comes 25 years after the 18-year-old was fatally stabbed by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993.

A memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of his death is being attended by national figures, including Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle.

The murder of the teenager was a watershed moment in modern race relations in the UK, after the subsequent Macpherson Report into the case concluded the police made mistakes and were guilty of "institutional racism".

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are. </s> A national day of commemoration of the life of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has been declared, to take place on April 22nd every year.

Theresa May today announced that the Government will work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to establish a national, annual commemoration of Stephen’s life and legacy.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the "heroic" campaigning parents of Stephen, and said the initiative would support young people "in achieving their dreams".

Speaking at a memorial service marking the anniversary of Stephen's murder, Mrs May said: "For the past 25 years, Doreen and Neville have fought heroically to ensure that their son’s life and death will never be forgotten.

"Their dignity, their courage and their sheer determination are an inspiration to us all.

"We are privileged to be here today at this special final anniversary service to commemorate Stephen. But it is right that Stephen’s name and legacy lives on. In the run up to this service, I have spoken with Baroness Lawrence about how best to achieve this.

"And so, today, with Baroness Lawrence’s blessing, I can announce that the Government will work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to establish a national, annual commemoration of Stephen’s life and legacy, to take place on the 22nd of April each year: Stephen Lawrence Day.

"We will use this day to encourage and support young people in achieving their dreams, and to reflect on Stephen’s life, death and the positive change he has inspired."

Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle also attended the service at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square.

Lawrence's murder in 1993 exposed racism in the London police and led to a change in the law allowing suspects to be tried twice for the same crime.

The 18-year-old student was stabbed to death at a bus stop in southeast London in an unprovoked attack by a gang of white youths shouting racist abuse.

Five men were arrested in the following months, but charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Two of the men were later convicted of murder in 2012.

The case became a catalyst for change after exposing deep-rooted failings in London's Metropolitan Police, dominated by senior white officers in an increasingly multiracial society.

A 1999 report by senior judge William Macpherson said the murder had exposed "institutional racism" in the force and also accused officers of incompetence and a failure of leadership. </s> The life and legacy of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence will be celebrated every year on April 22, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced. The announcement of "Stephen Lawrence Day" comes 25 years after the 18-year-old was fatally stabbed by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993. A memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of his death is being attended by national figures, including Prince Harry, his fiancee Meghan Markle and Theresa May. Stephen's father Neville said the annual national commemoration is "a mark of what we have been trying to do for years - our son's memory is going to be enshrined in history". The murder of the teenager was a watershed moment in modern race relations in the UK, after the subsequent Macpherson Report into the case concluded the police made mistakes and were guilty of "institutional racism".

Prince Harry and Ms Markle met Stephen's mother, now a peer sitting in the Lords, and brother Stuart before the memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London. During the service Theresa May gave a scripture reading and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn read an extract from Nelson Mandela's Long Walk To Freedom. Confirming the national day of commemoration Mrs May said: "For the past 25 years, Doreen and Neville have fought heroically to ensure that their son's life and death will never be forgotten." She added: "I can announce that the Government will work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to establish a national, annual commemoration of Stephen's life and legacy, to take place on 22 April each year: Stephen Lawrence Day." Baroness Lawrence thanked the Prime Minister for the announcement. Prince Harry added that the teenager's family had honoured him with everything they had done in his name and the changes they have brought about.

A group of up to six thugs attacked the teenager and his friend Duwayne Brooks, simply because they were black, however only two of them were convicted of murder. David Norris and Gary Dobson are both serving life sentences but three others, who have consistently been accused of the killing, have never been convicted. Jamie Acourt, his brother Neil Acourt, and Luke Knight have not been convicted but Knight, 41, is the only one who still lives locally. Neil Acourt, 42, is in jail for conspiracy to supply drugs and his brother Jamie, 41, is on the run in Spain suspected of drugs smuggling. All five men had their pictures printed on the front page of the Daily Mail accusing them of murder.

Scotland Yard has admitted it has no new lines of inquiry in the investigation into Stephen's murder. The force has said that unless detectives receive new information the investigation is "unlikely to progress further". Earlier this month, before the update from Scotland Yard, Stephen's mother Baroness Lawrence told the Daily Mail the investigation should end. Stephen's father Neville Lawrence, 76, announced last week he had made the humbling decision to forgive his son's killers. He told the Press Association: "The fact that I had to lose my first child has been devastating. I can't begin to explain the pain and the anguish me and my family have suffered over the past 25 years." </s> The anniversary of the death of Stephen Lawrence is to be marked on April 22 each year by a national commemoration of his life and legacy, to be known as Stephen Lawrence Day, Theresa May has announced.

The commemorative day was announced by the Prime Minister at a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of Stephen's murder.

Baroness Lawrence and Prime Minister Theresa May after attending a memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Mrs May was among a number of national figures, including Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who joined Stephen's parents Doreen and Neville at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London.

The 18-year-old student was fatally stabbed by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993.

The murder was a watershed moment in modern race relations in the UK after the subsequent Macpherson Report concluded the police made mistakes and were guilty of institutional racism.

Harry and Ms Markle met Stephen's mother, now a peer sitting in the Lords, and brother Stuart before the service.

The prince brought a message of support on behalf of the Prince of Wales, who in 2000 gave the annual Stephen Lawrence Memorial Lecture which began with a tribute to the Lawrence family.

During Monday's service Mrs May gave a scripture reading and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn read an extract from Nelson Mandela's Long Walk To Freedom.

Mrs May added: "For the past 25 years, Doreen and Neville have fought heroically to ensure that their son's life and death will never be forgotten.

"Their dignity, their courage and their sheer determination are an inspiration to us all.

"We are privileged to be here today at this special final anniversary service to commemorate Stephen.

"But it is right that Stephen's name and legacy lives on. In the run-up to this service, I have spoken with Baroness Lawrence about how best to achieve this.

"And so, today, with Baroness Lawrence's blessing, I can announce that the Government will work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to establish a national, annual commemoration of Stephen's life and legacy, to take place on 22 April each year: Stephen Lawrence Day.

"We will use this day to encourage and support young people in achieving their dreams, and to reflect on Stephen's life, death and the positive change he has inspired."

Harry told the congregation: "My father is very sorry not to be able to make it here so I am going to read some remarks on his behalf.

"'It hardly seems possible that 25 years have passed since Stephen Lawrence was so cruelly taken from his family.

"'I remember vividly the profound shock that I felt at his senseless murder, a feeling shared by so many people across this country and beyond.

"'I remember, too, just how deeply moved I was by the determination of Stephen's family to build something positive from the tragedy they endured and to ensure that Stephen's story did not end with despair, but continued with hope.

"'A quarter of a century later, we can only imagine the man who Stephen would have become, and just how his extraordinary potential might have been fulfilled.'"

Harry added that the teenager's family had honoured him with everything they had done in his name and the changes they have brought about.

Baroness Lawrence said: "I'd like to thank the Prime Minister for her announcement today that the Government will work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to establish a Stephen Lawrence Day to take place every year on 22 April.

"I feel honoured she has recognised the changes that have been made in Stephen's name and the changes that are still needed.

"This 25th anniversary is a moment for the country to come together to remember Stephen and, going forward, 22 April will provide that focal point every year.

"Stephen was denied his voice but the Stephen Lawrence Day will be an opportunity for young people to use their voices and should be embedded in our education and wider system regardless of the government of the day.

"I look forward to working with the Government to deliver the first day on April 22 2019."

She also thanked those who had helped her achieve all she has, and said that after 25 years "it is time to draw a line".

Singer Beverley Knight sang at the service, captivating the congregation with renditions of Fallen Soldier and A Change Is Gonna Come.

Two of the group of up to six thugs who attacked Stephen and his friend Duwayne Brooks, simply because they were black, have been convicted of murder.

Three other men who have consistently been accused of the killing but never been convicted are Jamie Acourt, 41, from Bexley, his brother Neil Acourt, 42, who uses his mother's maiden name Stuart, and Luke Knight, 41, both from Eltham.

Mr Lawrence, 76, announced last week he had made the humbling decision to forgive his son's killers.

He told the Press Association: "The fact that I had to lose my first child has been devastating. I can't begin to explain the pain and the anguish me and my family have suffered over the past 25 years."

Scotland Yard has admitted it has no new lines of inquiry in the investigation into Stephen's murder.

The force said that unless detectives receive new information the investigation is "unlikely to progress further". </s> Image copyright AFP

A national day of commemoration for murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence will take place on 22 April every year, the prime minister has said.

It came as the family of the black teenager attended the 25th anniversary memorial of his death in London.

The 18-year-old was stabbed to death in a racially motivated attack in Eltham, south London, in 1993.

Royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the service at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square.

Prime Minister Theresa May said that Stephen's mother Doreen - now a peer in the Lords - and his father Neville "have fought heroically to ensure that their son's life and death will never be forgotten".

Mr Lawrence was set upon by a gang, stabbed and left to die in Eltham on the evening of 22 April 1993.

Two of the group of up to six men who attacked the teenager and his friend Duwayne Brooks have been convicted of murder, but the rest have evaded justice.

David Norris and Gary Dobson are both serving life sentences.

The Macpherson Report into the investigation into Stephen Lawrence's death found that there had been "institutional racism" in the police.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also attended the memorial.

Mrs May said: "It is right that Stephen's name and legacy lives on."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Harry and Meghan met Stuart and Doreen Lawrence before the service

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Baroness Lawrence, Stephen's mother, with Prime Minister Theresa May

Baroness Lawrence said she looked forward to delivering the first Stephen Lawrence Day in 2019 alongside the government, adding: "I feel honoured she has recognised the changes that have been made in Stephen's name and the changes that are still needed."

She thanked those who had helped her throughout the years and said that after 25 years "it is time to draw a line".

The government will work alongside the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust - set up to transform the lives of young people and campaign for social change - to deliver an annual commemoration to the death of Stephen Lawrence, which was considered a watershed moment in race relations in the UK.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Baroness Lawrence meeting Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at St-Martin-in-the-Field

Prince Harry said: "It hardly seems possible that 25 years have passed since Stephen Lawrence was so cruelly taken from his family.

"I remember vividly the profound shock that I felt at his senseless murder, a feeling shared by so many people across this country and beyond.

"I remember, too, just how deeply moved I was by the determination of Stephen's family to build something positive from the tragedy they endured and to ensure that Stephen's story did not end with despair, but continued with hope." </s> Theresa May has announced an annual Stephen Lawrence Day to be held each year on the anniversary of the teenager’s murder.



The prime minister made the announcement at a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the hate crime that shocked the nation and led to the Metropolitan police being labelled as institutionally racist.



In a statement, Stephen’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, welcomed the announcement. “I feel honoured she has recognised the changes that have been made in Stephen’s name and the changes that are still needed.”

Stephen Lawrence Day would be “an opportunity for young people to use their voices and should be embedded in our education and wider system regardless of the government of the day,” she added. The first Stephen Lawrence Day will be on 22 April 2019.



Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were among the up to 800 people who attended the service.



The service on Monday, at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square in central London, was also attended by Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, the London mayor Sadiq Khan, actor Lenny Henry, singer Beverley Knight, and the Metropolitan police commissioner Cressida Dick.



Stephen’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, and his brother Stuart greeted guests at the church entrance before the service, which was held to celebrate his life and legacy. Many of those attending the service were wearing the orange ribbon lapel badges of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.



Harry and Meghan were the last of the VIP guests to arrive, stopping to talk for a few moments to Doreen and Stuart. Crowds who had gathered outside the church cheered as the couple, who are to marry in less than a month, arrived.



During the service, Harry read a letter of support on behalf of his father, the Prince of Wales. It said: “I remember vividly the profound shock that I felt at [Stephen’s] senseless murder, a feeling shared by so many people across this country and beyond. I remember, too, just how deeply moved I was by the determination of his family to build something positive from the tragedy they endured and to ensure that Stephen’s story did not end with despair, but continued with hope.”



Letters of support were also sent by May, Corbyn, home secretary Amber Rudd, and former home secretary Jack Straw.

Corbyn read an extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, A Long Walk to Freedom. The late anti-apartheid hero and former president of South Africa met the Lawrence family at his request while on a visit to London two weeks after Stephen’s murder. The meeting helped to focus national attention on the hate crime.



As well as hymns, readings, prayers and reflections, Beverley Knight sang two songs, A Change is Gonna Come and Fallen Soldier. Lenny Henry interviewed three beneficiaries of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which last year supported more than 2,000 young adults with training, mentoring and bursaries.



The service opened and closed with music from a gospel choir.



In an introduction to the order of service, Doreen Lawrence wrote: “I wish for Stephen’s name not to be identified by his murder, but by the mark he has left on this country and the wider world and for the role model he was and continues to be for many young people today, even though the majority of them would not have been born at the time of his death.”



She added: “It has been a long journey that is not over yet, for there are many injustices that are still taking place today.”



Stephen was murdered by a gang of five youths in Eltham, south-east London, on 22 April 1993. Only two, David Norris and Gary Dobson, were convicted of murder almost two decades later, and last week Scotland Yard said it had no new lines of inquiry to pursue.



The failure of police to investigate Stephen’s murder properly and bring to account those responsible, and their shocking treatment of his family and friend Duwayne Brooks, led to a watershed moment in race relations in the UK. The subsequent Macpherson inquiry concluded the police were guilty of institutional racism. </s> Police forces across Britain are still guilty of institutional racism 25-years after the murder of Stephen Lawrence, one of Britain's most senior church leaders has suggested.

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, said the recommendations made by the Macpherson Report, following the racist murder of the black teenager, needed to be revisited and lessons still needed to be learned.

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of Stephen's murder in south east London, Dr Sentamu - who was the Bishop of Stepney at the time - said the murder still had a "chilling effect" on Britain.

And he said it was time to look again at the findings of the Macpherson Report, and consider where areas of policing could be improved.

He told BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme: "I think the 72 recommendations, which were accepted by the then Home Secretary, and there was an action plan ... I'm afraid it needs to be revisited by every police service so that they learn the lessons that were very clear." </s> LONDON (AP) — The man who mowed down pedestrians on a London bridge and fatally stabbed a police officer on Parliament’s grounds was born in Britain and was known to intelligence services, the prime minister said Thursday.

Theresa May, who didn’t disclose the man’s name, said that he was once investigated for extremism links, but was considered a peripheral figure.

The revelation came moments after Parliament held a minute of silence and reconvened less than 24 hours after Wednesday’s brutal attack, which killed three victims and forced a lockdown of the British government’s seat of power.

May delivered a defiant message to the House of Commons, declaring simply: “We are not afraid.”

In a sweeping statement, she set an unyielding tone, promising answers as to why a British-born national drove an SUV into innocent pedestrians along Westminster Bridge before charging into a parliamentary courtyard and stabbing a police officer. Police shot and killed the attacker.

While she honored the police, she also saluted the everyday actions of millions who went about their lives in London as normal and describing it as proof that the attack failed to break the determination of Londoners and Britons.

“As I speak millions will be boarding trains and airplanes to travel to London, and to see for themselves the greatest city on Earth,” she told the House. “It is in these actions – millions of acts of normality – that we find the best response to terrorism —a response that denies our enemies their victory, that refuses to let them win, that shows we will never give in.”

Parliament began its moment of silence at 9:33 a.m. (5:33 a.m. EDT), honoring the slain police officer, 48-year-old Keith Palmer, a 15-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police and a former soldier. Parliament then returned to business, an act of defiance to those who had attacked British democracy.

“Those who carry out such wicked and depraved acts as we saw yesterday can never triumph in our country and we must ensure it is not violence, hatred or division but decency and tolerance that prevails in our country,” Trade Secretary Liam Fox said.

“Hear, hear!” lawmakers from all parties responded in unison.

Authorities know the identity of the man who went on the car and gun rampage at Parliament on Thursday, but police and the prime minister didn’t disclose his name.

Police believe that the man acted alone and there is no reason to believe “imminent further attacks” are planned, she said.

Mayor Sadiq Khan called for Londoners to attend a candlelit vigil at Trafalgar Square on Thursday evening in solidarity with the victims and their families and to show that the city remains united.

Parliament Square, Westminster Bridge and several surrounding streets remain cordoned off by police. Scores of unarmed officers in bright yellow jackets were staffing the perimeter tape, guiding confused civil servants trying to get to work. In Parliament’s New Palace Yard, a blue police tent was erected over the spot where the stabbing and shooting occurred, and two forensic officers worked at a trestle table nearby.

Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Mark Rowley revised the death toll from five to four, including the attacker, the police officer and two civilians. He said that 29 people required hospitalization and seven of them were in critical condition. He also said that authorities were still working out the number of “walking wounded.” Police had previously given the total number of injured as around 40.

One of those killed was Aysha Frade, a British national whose mother is Spanish, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

A doctor who treated the wounded from the bridge said some had “catastrophic” injuries. Three police officers returning from a ceremony to honor their bravery were among the injured.

May said people from 11 countries were among the victims. They included: 12 Britons, 3 French, 2 Romanians, 4 South Koreans, 1 German, 1 Pole, 1 Irish, 1 Chinese, 1 Italian, 1 American and two Greeks required hospital treatment. Police earlier said that seven of the 29 who are hospitalized are in critical condition.

The threat level for international terrorism in the U.K. was already listed at severe, meaning an attack was “highly likely.”

London has been a target for terrorism many times over past decades. Just this weekend, hundreds of armed police took part in an exercise simulating a “marauding” terrorist attack on the River Thames.

May said underscored that the attack targeted “free people everywhere,” and she said she had a response: “You will not defeat us.”

“Let this be the message from this House and this nation today: our values will prevail,” she said.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces that henceforth April 22 will be marked nationally as Stephen Lawrence Day to commemorate the black teenager murdered 25 years ago in a racist assault. The high-profile crime led to the Metropolitan Police being labeled "institutionally racist".