Southall commemorated the historic struggles against racism that sadly witnessed the tragic killings of our loved ones – Gurdip Singh Chaggar and Blair Peach.

For many locals, the murder of schoolteacher Blair Peach remains unfinished business. Residents gathered on Tuesday 13 July 2021 to express their commitment to challenge all forms of racism.

The historic events of late 1970’s in Southall, from 1976 to 1981, were defining moments in the history of race relations in the UK. Their lessons are relevant today given the rise of the far right and global struggles against structural, institutional and state racism.

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The highlight of the day was the reinstallation of the three plaques. The original plaques installed in 2019 were stolen soon after. The first two honour the memories of Gurdip Singh Chaggar, a young Asian teenager killed in a racially motivated assault in June 1976, and Blair Peach, a school teacher killed by the Metropolitan Police’s SPG officers in April 1979. The third is a tribute to Southall’s reggae Band, Misty ‘n Roots, whose members in Peoples Unite suffered from state violence and injustice during these. events.

The day’s events were divided into three parts:

From 10 am to 12 noon, there were anti-racist workshops with school students facilitated by Southall Community Alliance & The Monitoring Group.

The second part, from 5pm to 5.30pm, was the plaque ceremony with Jatinder Chaggar (nephew of Gurdip Singh Chaggar), Celia Stubs (life long partner of Blair Peach), Clarence Baker (Misty ‘n Roots), John McDonnell MP, Eve Turner, Janpal Basran (Southall Community Alliance) and Suresh Grover (The Monitoring Group). This section of the event was sponsored by Ealing Trades Council, Southall Community Alliance and The Monitoring Group

The next part consisted of anti-racist solidarity statements from Claudia Webbe MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Cllr Julian Bell, Cllr Peter Mason, Ursula James (Tudor Rose Venue), Dr Kulwant Singh (Educationalist), Ahmed Mohamed (Somali Elders Group, Mark Poulson (Southall Faiths Forum). Mr Harsev Bains (SCA). This section of the event is facilitated by Southall Community Alliance.

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The first speech was by, the host of the event, Suresh Grover of the Monitoring Group. The next speaker Jatinder Singh Chaggar, nephew of Gurdip Singh Chaggar. Gurdip’s elder brother was also present.

The third speaker was Celia Stubs, the lifelong partner of Blair Peach, who has been fighting for the Blair Peach cause for the last 42 years. It took 31 years for the Police to admit that Blair Peach was killed by a Policeman. During that time, she and the Monitoring Group was spied on by undercover Police so that they could stay one step ahead of any legal action. She was spied on for over 20 years. For what purpose? This is still going to go on for several more years. Still not got justice.

Clarence Baker, the founder of Peoples Unite and manager of Southall’s reggae Band, Misty ‘n Roots said “Somethings we will never forget … Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it”. In April 1979 he spent several months in a coma after being beaten up by the Police. He remembers the innocent people, who had done nothing, being sent to prison. He said “Never let racism raise its ugly head again”. His new book “Still in Chains” is a good and easy to read.

Suresh Grover said 345 people charged with various criminal offences. Thy were tried by special stipendiary judges brough from Northern Ireland. The conviction rate was 90%. Even priests carrying umbrella were charged with threatening behaviour.

Suresh Grover “These acts of solidarity are very very important.” Blair was killed because he came to give solidarity. That act led to his death and his murder.

Two people who have shown solid solidarity with the people of Southall are Eve Turner and Oliver New. In 1979, after chaggar’s death, Suresh Grover witnessed a placard of “We are against racism two” being carried by Oliver New. Those act of solidarity (and those gestures) are critical.

Eve Turner said it was “good to see lots of people from different sections of the community. Today is about unity – standing against racism. We were standing up to protect this community against an atrocious act by the government to allow a racist, a fascist party to meet in Southall Town Hall.”