VIDEO: LONDON HATE CRIME VIGIL

Latest videos, News, Pride by HOMOVISION on November 2, 2009 at 10:48 am

Organisers estimate over 10,000 people attended the London Hate Crime Vigil in Trafalgar Square on Friday night, while similar events happened in Brighton and Manchester.

Hosted by broadcaster Sandy Toksvig, the London event paid tribute to those people who had been affected by hate crimes throughout the world. Family and friends of Ian Baynham, who was attacked in Trafalgar Square, spoke to the crowd, alongside representatives of various gay organisations and MPs.

Mark Healey

Mark Healey of 17-24-30 Group, who organised the event, stressed the importance of the gay community standing together against hate crime, as well as re-developing grass-root communities: “For a long time, I feel there has been a hole in our community, in the sense that it’s all been focused on the scene, rather than building the community. We really need to balance this out. It’s not just about money over bars. It’s about looking after the new people coming out.”

A statement from Gordon Brown was read out by minister Maria Eagle, which said: “I give you my word today that resisting all forms of hate crime remains a top priority for the Labour government. Perhaps the cruelest impact of hate crime is the loneliness and fear which it inspires in the communities it targets. And so to defeat hate we need not just policies – but pride. That is what you are all showing this evening. So let us say as one that we stand together strong in our diversity and united in our determination that while the march towards equality may be long, nobody will ever have to travel the road alone.”

Support also came from Tory leader David Cameron, who stressed that Ian Baynham’s death demonstrated the urgency of tackling homophobic crime.

Internet chatter has criticised a number of gay-owned bars in Soho for remaining open during the course of the vigil.

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