Brixton residents will join members of the No to Hate Crime Campaign tomorrow to mark the 15th anniversary of the Brixton nail bomb.
Each year, on April 17, people gather and light candles by Iceland store, in Electric Avenue, to remember the explosion rocked the Brixton community. The device, which exploded at 5.25pm, was one of three planted by David Copeland during a two-week campaign of terror targeting black, Asian and gay communities in the capital.
The Brixton Remembers gathering will commemorate the three people that died and 47 that were injured when David Copeland planted a series of nail bombs across London to stir up fear and hatred, with the hope it would lead to the election of the BNP.
Over the course of two weeks in April 1999 three bombs went off, targeting the black community of Brixton ( April 17), the Asian community of Brick Lane (April 24) and the gay community of Soho (April 30).
Three candles will be lit to symbolically represent the three communities that were attacked and the three people who died, whilst the group will take time to talk to passers-by about what happened and observe a minutes silence at 6.30pm.
A plaque on the wall of Iceland marks the spot where the device, hidden in a holdall, exploded, blowing out shop windows and leaving stunned shoppers and traders with horrific injuries.
Mark Healey, the council’s Hate Crime Co-ordinator said “It is just as important this year as it is every year that we take a moment to mark the anniversaries of these horrific events.
“Although these kind of attacks are extremely rare we need to ensure that our communities continue to work closely together and remain vigilant against all forms of hatred, to ensure that those affected by hate crime have our on-going support and that we do everything we can to challenge racism and homophobia to ensure that Lambeth remains a safe place for all.”
If you would like to join the gathering, it will begin at 6pm next to the Iceland Store, Electric Avenue on Thursday 17 April.
A similar gathering will take place in Brick Lane Thursday 24 April and the final act of remembrance will take place on Wednesday 30 April with a service at 6pm in St Anne’s Gardens, Soho.
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http://172430notohatecrime.wordpress.com/brixton-17/brixton-archive/
Are the people shown in the photograph some of those who were injured in the attack?
If not, what became of those who were actually injured (some very seriously)?
Have they been written out of local history?