Costa Book Award Winner Author tells powerful story in Leeds

The ‘The Louder I Will Sing’ author was in Leeds this past 12th of October to share with the local community his inspiring story of finding justice and helping others find their voice to commemorate this year’s Black History Month.

During the talk ‘Touching Ground Zero: Race, Policing and Public Accountability’ hosted by Leeds Trinity University, the author shared how his mother’s shooting impacted his life and led his family in a journey to pursue accountability. 

Later that day he attended a community event in Chapeltown held at the Reginald Centre. It featured a panel talk, including Alison Lowe, the Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime, where members of the public were able to ask questions and engage in discussion with him. 

The Deputy thanked him via a tweet for his attendance and for listening the new reform of improving policing for Black people.

Lee Lawrence was 11 years old when he witnessed his mother, Dorothy “Cherry” Groce, getting shot by the Metropolitan Police. This house search that turned into the shooting of an innocent woman would lead to the Brixton riots in 1985, where angry crowds gathered around the streets of south London as they were already critical of the Brixton Police tactics against black people. 

In 2014, three years after his mother passed away, his application for legal aid got denied but he persevered and got around 133k signatures in support for that decision to be overturned. His right to get justice and accountability was granted and he received a full public apology from the Metropolitan Police. In 2016, the foundation for his mother ‘The Cherry Groce Foundation’ was set up as a memorial for her and as a way to help people pursue justice and support victims of injustice.

Since then Lee has worked with organisations, communities, institutions, and educational establishments as social change advocator and restorative justice ambassador. Lee shares his full story in his latest book ‘The Louder I Will Sing’ which made him win the Costa Biography Award 2022

A week after his visit, he shared his gratitude towards the receivement in the city and their proactiveness to eradicate injustice via twitter. 

He also quoted some members of the public who mentioned him in their tweets thanking him for coming and for telling his inspirational story.

Sofia Cann, @SofiaCann1 on Twitter, posted a thread about meeting him.