Thursday 1 November 2012

United Family and Friends Demonstration London 2012

United Family and Friends Demonstration London 2012

On Saturday October 27th I went to the United Family and Friends annual demonstration in London.Families gathered in Trafalgar Square and walked slowly to Downing Street with bannres of their loved ones I, with two very good friends, carried the banner of Sarah Campbell. It was heartbreaking to  remember that  Sarah,s mother, Pauline, died in 2008 after her hardfought campaign for prisons to be abolished.She was instrumental in the publication of the Corston Report. It is shameful that so few of those recommendations have been put into practice. The article in yesterday's Guardian about Newhall Prison shows how little things have changed
The most poignant moment of the day for me was when a young black boy, possibly fifteen years old,stood by Sarah's banner and asked me to tell him her story.He listened  gravely with his head bent. and when I finished he looked straight at me and said " I'm sorry."