Jamaican Born Civil Rights Campaigner Appointed to British House of Lords

Noted Jamaican-born civil rights campaigner, Doreen Lawrence, who was recently appointed to the British House of Lords, has been honoured by the Jamaican High Commission in London.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) Home Secretary, Theresa May, was among the special guests at a reception hosted on Monday, October 21, by Her Excellency, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba.

Mrs. Lawrence took her seat as Labour member of the Upper House earlier this month, using the title Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon in the Commonwealth Realm of Jamaica.

She is the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a British teenager, who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993. Her tireless fight for justice for her son, has promoted reforms of the police service. She has also founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.

Mrs. Lawrence said that she was overwhelmed by the honour. “It has been overwhelming. My work was not to get me to here. It was for my son, for my family. I wanted the world to recognise what we were going through,” she said.

She said she sees her role in the House of Lords as being the voice of ordinary people.

High Commissioner Ndombet-Assamba congratulated Mrs. Lawrence on her elevation to the House of Lords.

“We are very proud that she is now Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon in the Commonwealth Realm of Jamaica.  It is the parish of her birth in Jamaica and where Stephen is buried. I am told it is rare for this honour to be named after a location in a Commonwealth realm or other country outside of the United Kingdom,” the High Commissioner said.

High Commissioner Assamba said the honour was a fitting testament to Baroness Lawrence’s resolute campaign, bravery and commitment to getting justice for Stephen.