Held at the West Indian Centre in Chapeltown, Leeds on March 31st 2008, this event was put together to raise awareness and to start a conversation with the community of Leeds about a permanent memorial to David Oluwale. Amongst the speakers were author Caryl Phillips, writers and performers from the ‘F Words’ Project and Leeds Young Authors.

ELFM were there to support the event.

David Oluwale arrived in Hull as a stowaway from his native Nigeria in September 1949. he served 28 days in Leeds Prison for his crime. Twenty years later, in May 1969, he was pulled out of the River Aire, at Knostrop in Leeds, where he had drowned.

For more information on the David Oluwale Memorial Appeal click here.

To listen to more ELFM podcasts about David Oluwale click here.

 

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East Leeds FM and pupils from Brigshaw High School attended the Huddersfield Literature Festival on Saturday the 15th of March at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

We had the unique opportunity to listen to Doreen Lawrence recount the impact of the murder of her son Stephen. She was joined by Kester Aspden, who discussed his powerful study of the persecution and death of David Oluwale in Leeds in 1969 (see separate interview).

At the end of the two hour intimate session with Doreen and Kester, pupils from Brigshaw High Schools Stephen Lawrence Project group had the chance to interview Doreen. Robyn Scargill, Bronte Plenderleith and Aisha Aslam were on hand for ELFM with some searching questions. They were accompanied by Mr Mir and Miss Marsh who had a dab at interviewing too…

 

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You may want to find out more about the Stephen Lawrence Centre Education Leeds also co-ordinates the Stephen Lawrence Education Award

Doreen’s book – And Still I Rise is available from all good bookshops and at Amazon

Thanks to Huddersfield Literature Festival for arranging the interview for us and Brian Cross for the photos.

David Oluwale arrived in Hull as a stowaway from his native Nigeria in September 1949. He served 28 days in Leeds Prison for his crime. Twenty years later, in May 1969, he was pulled out of the River Aire, at Knostrop in Leeds, where he had drowned.

At the Huddersfield Literature Festival, on March 15th, Kester Aspden spoke alongside Doreen Lawrence about his book - Nationality: Wog – The Hounding of David Oluwale

Students from Brigshaw High School interviewed Festival Director Rommi Smith about David Oluwale and about the campaign to create an appropriate memorial in Leeds:

 

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For more information about the Memorial Appeal have a look at the david oluwale leaflet

Author Caryl Phillips will be speaking about the meaning of David’s life and death in Leeds at the West Indian Centre on the evening of Monday 31st March. ELFM plan to be there…

Well, did my first “proper” show since 2006 as part of this weeks ELFM broadcast from Gipton. You can listen to this again by clicking below. I had a couple of guests in from Stop Hate UK, Richard & Jagdeep. They came in to talk about the work that Stop Hate UK does in Leeds, and increasingly around the country, tackling the problem of hate crimes in society. They pointed out that hate crimes do not soley relate to crimes connected to racism, but can include any crime where the victim feels they have been targeted due to some difference - whether it be religious, their sexuality, a disability or anything else.

As part of their work within the community, Stop Hate UK in partnership with local group Community Unity, recently held a community event to bring together people from different cultures. This was held at the Newbourne Methodist Church, Richmond Hill, on February 16th and was very well attended by people from throughout the local community.

If you feel that you have been a victim of hate crime you can call their hotline free on 0800 138 1625 in total confidence. They also have a website, www.stophateuk.org.

If you want to volunteer, or want more information about the work that Stop Hate UK do, then you can ring them on 0113 2935100 or email them at info@stophateuk.org.

That’s it, thanks for listening and I’ll be back for the next broadcast.

Andy

 

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Justice for all: looking at crime from the point of view of the victims. What the Probation Service does to support victims. And specific issues like racial harassment.

 

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