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UNITED AGAINST KNIVES

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25 September 2008

By Gavriel Hollander
gav@southwarknews.org 

THOUSANDS OF protestors, including the families and friends of London's young murder victims, joined a 'people's march' against knife and gun crime on Saturday.

As marchers gathered in Kennington Park, some of those most affected by the recent spate of violence in Southwark spoke out against the youngsters who carry weapons.

Grace Idowu (pictured left), whose fourteen-year-old son David was stabbed to death in Borough earlier this year, said: "We need to do this so that these people who carry knives know the damage and the waste they cause, not just to the families but to the whole nation.

"We are living in fear now. We do not know who is carrying a knife. Everyone thinks it's right to carry knives but they cannot protect themselves like this.

"We all believe in the same thing: that enough is enough. The Government should stand up and do something."

Richard Taylor, the father of Damilola Taylor, who was murdered in Peckham eight years ago, was involved in organising the march after the idea began life on social networking website Facebook. He said: "It makes me feel great that we are able to do this and that it's the families that are doing it, not the politicians.

"I can see the message is going to grow out towards the young people when they hear our voices."

Rosie Ogazi, whose brother Anthony was killed in Walworth in May, was another family member showing her support for the march.

"It was really important for me to do this because this has become an epidemic and I want it to stop. I don't want to see other families go through what me and my family have gone through.

"I want to see more events like this. Otherwise people will forget about it, but people will never forget to kill people."

Two marches, starting from either side of the Thames, converged on Hyde Park, where a video message from Prime Minister Gordon Brown was greeted with jeers.

The march came as the Government launched their new 'Put Down your Knives' campaign.

A statement from deputy Labour leader and MP for Camberwell and Peckham Harriet Harman, read out on Saturday, said: "We are working closely with a bereaved mother whose son was killed in a knife attack, calling on parents and community members to talk with young people about the danger of carrying a knife and to report anyone suspected of carrying a knife to the police. All of us, whether we are MPs, Ministers, parents, community leaders or members of faith groups - everyone, from all walks of life must work together to tackle this incredibly serious problem. You have my full support for your campaign to end knife crime."

North Southwark and Bermondsey Simon Hughes MP, who attended the march, said: "We have to support people like Grace Idowu and Richard Taylor and their families. I think it's important to give solidarity and support. I get the impression we are turning a corner. There's no reason we can't bring an end to knife crime. It's a culture but it's a culture that can change. It's about mutual support so people can see we are here for each other."

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