Victims of Hate Crime to be remembered at St Paul's

An act of remembrance for those who have been murdered and injured by hate crime, will again be held at St Paul's.

The service, on Saturday 12 October at 6.30pm, is being organised alongside hate crime organisation 17-24-30, and will mark the beginning of the second Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The name of the 17-24-30 organisation relates to the dates in April 1999 on which three horrific bombings took place in London.
17 April – Brixton, aimed at the black community
24 April – Brick Lane, aimed at the Asian community
30 April – Soho, aimed at the gay community

During the Act of Remembrance, Jenny Baynham, sister of Ian Baynham who died five years ago after being homophobically abused and beaten in Trafalgar Square, will light a candle of hope. The candle will remain burning in the Cathedral next to William Holman Hunt's Light of the World painting for the duration of Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Music will be provided by the London Gay Men's Chorus.

This short, inclusive, reflective ceremony is for those of different faiths and those of no faith and all people are welcome to attend.

The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St Paul's said: "Lewis Carroll said it is a poor sort of memory that only looks backward, so we will use this time together to renew ourselves and commit ourselves to standing alongside any who are vulnerable to attack - verbal or physical - because of who they are, who they love, what they look like, what they believe.

"Each and every human being - whatever their race, colour, nationality, sexuality, gender identity, disability, religion - being able to live without fear: that is what we together must stand up for, speak up for, and if our tradition, pray for."

Hate Crime Awareness Week will culminate in an International Day of Hope and Remembrance, with vigils being held in towns and cities across the UK.

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