STAR WARS ACTOR

“Black Lives Matter” was painted in giant letters on the road to the White House in Washington as demos went on yesterday.

And as the shockwave of Mr Floyd’s death continues to reverberate around the globe, Richard – whose wife Gloria died in 2008, aged 57 – is clear that the issue runs deep.

He said: “It is the 20th anniversary of Damilola’s death this year and we have created a legacy campaign to inspire communities to come together. Such a time of division is made worse by the racial inequality and disparities exposed by the Covid virus keeping me locked in my home.”

Richard, who set up the Damilola Taylor Trust with Gloria in 2001, added: “What is happening in

America is almost beyond belief and George Floyd must not die in vain. The world must unite to condemn killings of black people and the societal racism we have suffered. I hope by dedicating my son’s 20th anniversary to the healing process needed, his legacy can be one of hope.

“Shortly before his death, he wrote an essay in which he said he hoped to save the world one day.

Hope

“The 20th anniversary campaign is dedicated to this and is called simply HOPE 2020. It’s a social media campaign almost the entire UK youth sector has signed up to and organisations like the Met Police and all the UK housing associations are behind.

“It culminates with a memorial service at Southwark Cathedral by my great friend the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and Boris Johnston will represent the Government.”