Tributes have been paid to Mothers Against Guns co-founder Michelle Forbes who passed away last week.
The former senior probation officer at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court became one of south London’s most recognisable campaigners after her 21-year-old son Leon, a father with another baby on the way, was shot to death on the doorstep of the family’s home in Clapham.
In her search for justice she turned her family’s devastating tragedy into a catalyst for change, teaming up with fellow bereaved parent; Peckham’s Lucy Cope to lobby the government to impose tougher sentences on gun crimes and calling for life to mean life behind bars.
The formidable pair took their campaign to Downing Street and the heart of Tony Blair’s government, and as far afield as the USA, having audiences with president Bill Clinton and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Lucy Cope paid tribute to Michelle describing her as ‘like a sister’.
“I lost my son before Michelle and I remember like it was yesterday when she came to my house,” she said.
“She was broken, and we have stuck together all these years. I feel like a sister has gone.
“She was a phenomenal woman, a phenomenal fighter, a brilliant probation officer, mother, sister and friend.
“Michelle, you made an impact on my life, an impact on the then-prime minister, mayor Bloomberg and Clinton.
“Like you said – if we get closed doors we’ll kick them down.”
The grim toll as teenage murders reach highest levels for over a decade
Although the government has pledged to crack down on serious crime and increase sentences through its controversial police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, violent crime has escalated after lockdown.
Two teenagers died within hours of each other in separate attacks in Lambeth and Greenwich on Monday.
They are the latest victims in a wave of serious youth violence across London.
In a grim record, 63 homicides have been investigated by the Met in 2021 so far.
The Met has warned the city is now set to have the highest number of teenage killings since 2008 – when 26 young people died.
Fatal stabbings between January and April were up by a quarter compared to last year.
Victims from south London
- 22-year-old Lavaun Witter, from Peckham, stabbed to death in Croydon in February
- Seventeen-year-old Levi Ernest-Morrison fatally injured in Sydenham in April
- A 78-year-old was found dead in Jamaica Road from a head injury
- 74-year-old Christopher Martin found dead in Lewisham
- 53-year-old Marlene Coleman from Lewisham
- Nineteen-year-old Tashawn Watt stabbed to death in Sydenham last month
- 26-year-old Jason Nyarko killed at a Bermondsey rave two weeks ago
READ MORE: Government needs to do more than legislate to tackle teen killings
That’s very sad. What a greater pity is that this brave lady never saw her demands for life to mean exactly that, a Life Sentences. The Guidline Sentencing Council has a lot to answer for.
Neverless she has been making a stand for justice for her son, and others.
God Rest her Soul.
My dear friend Mitchell I still find it hard to know you are gone you live on in erica your beautiful daughter whom many many times stood right by our sides at many events you will never be forgotten Mitchell right across the Atlantic there has been condolences sent over for you from our sister liz goldsmith Mitchell you rest in peace with your beloved leon both gone to soon you were an amazing woman Mitchell and an amazing friend to myself iffatt Lois Cheryl sealey and many many more may you for ever rest I’m everlasting peace