UK Stars Honor Anniversary of Stephen Lawrence's Death
The event marked 20 years since the fatal racist attack.
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In Memory of Stephen Lawrence - To mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Black Brit Stephen Lawrence, Rita Ora, Emeli Sande, Rudimental (pictured) and more contemporary British singers gathered to perform at the star-studded event, Unity: A Concert for Stephen Lawrence, in London on Sunday night. Keep reading to see who was tapped to pay respects to the slain 18-year-old. —Patrice Peck(Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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Rita Ora - Rita Ora was one of the performers to honor the memory of Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old who was killed on April 22, 1993, in high profile racial killing.(Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)
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Guilty - Although Gary Dobson and David Norris were eventually found guilty of Lawrence’s murder in 2012, a number of controversies have surrounded the case since then, including an alleged campaign launched by the local police to smear the Lawrence family and supporters.(Photo: Courtesy Stephen Lawrence Family)
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Doreen Lawrence - Having campaigned for 18 years to bring Stephen’s killers to justice, his mother, Doreen Lawrence, spoke of her son’s love for music and the need for change in race relations in the U.K. “We still look over our shoulder in this country, that’s certainly how I feel when I’m out on the street, and that has to change,” she said.(Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)
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Jessie J - British singer and songwriter Jessie J performed Amazing Grace alongside the London Gospel Youth Choir. "She's an inspirational woman,” said Jessie of Doreen Lawrence. “It's the worst thing when you lose a child and the fact that she's still fighting for equality and peace is what I stand for."(Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)
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Emeli Sande - Scottish recording artist Emeli Sande performed a moving set. ''To be asked to perform and to bring my music here was a big deal for me,” she told BANG Showbiz. “The Lawrence family have been part of my life from a distance from when I was very young. To be here now feels really incredible.''(Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)
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Beverly Knight - Beverly Knight performed “Fallen Soldier,” a song she wrote for Stephen and described as “a homage to the brother I never knew.”(Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
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Ellie Goulding - While singing an emotional rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song” and her hit song “Anything Could Happen,” British pop star Ellie Goulding experienced the only technical difficulty of the night when her microphone stopped working. The audience continued singing as Goulding recovered. “My mic not working turned into the loveliest moment ever thank you so much everyone!!!” she later tweeted.(Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)