Starting in 2019, Stephen Lawrence Day is held each year on April 22 to commemorate Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1993.
Is Stephen Lawrence Day a Public Holiday?
No. While Stephen Lawrence Day is an annual observance commemorating an event that shook British society, it does not have the status of a bank holiday in the UK.
The Murder of Stephen Lawrence
Stephen Lawrence was a black British teenager who was stabbed to death by a gang of six white youths while waiting for a bus in Eltham, a district of southeast London, on the evening of April 22, 1993. It was later determined that Lawrence was killed solely on account of his skin color.
Institutional Racism Hampered Investigation
Besides making headlines for the brutality and callousness of the hate crime itself, the case gained special notoriety in the UK for its handling by the police. Only two of the suspects were convicted, each receiving life sentences, while the remaining four assailants ultimately could not be brought to justice.
A 1998 report submitted by Sir William Macpherson concluded that the police not only acted incompetently but that institutional racism was to blame for the failure to swiftly bring all of the murderers to justice.
Watershed Moment in UK Race Relations
Today, the murder of Stephen Lawrence is seen as a watershed moment in race relations in the United Kingdom. Its social significance and consequences have been compared to those of the Rodney King case in the United States.
Stephen Lawrence Day Events
Stephen Lawrence Day is a somber occasion featuring commemorative events organized by the UK government and the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, an educational charity dedicated to the promotion of social justice.
Stephen Lawrence Day Observances
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
