A petition calling for an annual Windrush Day to honor the Caribbean pioneers who helped changed Britain into a multicultural society has now gathered over 4,600 signatures.
I set up the petition after I joined a host of prominent figures as joint signatories on a letter to The Times newspaper (£ paywall link) calling for an annual celebration.
Other signatories include Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman, Doreen Lawrence, MPs Diane Abbott, David Lammy and Sarah Teather, Lord Victor Adebowale, Baroness Oona King, Lord Herman Ouseley, playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and actor Rudolph Walker.
The campaign, led by Hackney councillor Patrick Vernon and the organisation British Future, prompted Labour’ shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna to also back the call, as reported by Operation Black Vote.
You can check out a BBC radio report here, an ITV news report here, a supplement in The Voice newspaper here, and a statement by David Cameron on the 65th anniversary of the Windrush landing in Tilbury Docks here.
If you haven’t yet signed the petition please don’t delay! Sign here: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/join-calls-to-celebrate-windrush-day-every-year
By Lester Holloway
