Soho Bomb Vigil, Service
British gays and lesbians were joined by other minority communities threatened by hate violence in mourning, defiance and solidarity.
Silence reigned in Soho's busy Old Compton Street on the evening of May 7 at 6:40pm, the time when exactly a week before an explosion blew out of the front of the Admiral Duncan gay bar. Patrons and staff of surrounding cafes and shops joined hundreds gathered for a protest vigil in a minute of silence as the bells of St. Anne's Church around the corner ceased tolling for the lives lost to the explosion: Andrea Dykes, John Light, and gay Nick Moore. Five remained in critical condition, and many of the dozens injured will be scarred for life.
The man authorities believe is responsible for the April 30 Soho bombing, as well as similar bombings on April 17 in the predominantly Black Brixton neighborhood and on April 24 in the predominantly Bangladeshi Brick Lane area, made a second brief court appearance on May 10. As on May 3, David Copeland spoke only to confirm his name and address as he appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court. He was remanded to custody until his next court appearance June 7. Copeland faces three counts of murder and three of causing an explosion with intent to endanger life. Despite several neo-Nazi groups having claimed responsibility for the blasts, police are convinced Copeland acted alone; they continue to seek any information in connection with the bombings.
The boards now covering the front of the Admiral Duncan are plastered with messages, most of gay defiance against the threat of violence. Peter Orrin, a bombing victim just released May 7 from hospital treatment for injuries to his face, hands and foot, told reporters at the vigil who asked if he feared returning to London's gay center in Soho, "It comes down to the fact that if you let them win you have lost. If you change your lifestyle in any way then you really have lost."
Defiance, solidarity and remembrance were the three themes of the vigil named by Peter Tatchell of the gay and lesbian direct action group OutRage!, which organized the gathering and estimated a turnout of 1,000. The solidarity was marked by speakers at the rally representing the communities hit by the two earlier bombs, including Teresa Bennett of the Anti-Nazi League, Darryl Telles of the National Assembly Against Racism, and Sukwant Dhaliwal of Southall Black Sisters; Britain's Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks also sent a message, read by a member of the Jewish Lesbian and Gay Group. All expressed a sense of unity in the face of the common threat of hate violence, and called for action against both racism and homophobia.
Openly gay veteran rocker Tom Robinson sang "Lean On Me" and his classic anthem "Sing If You're Glad to Be Gay" with a new verse added for the occasion. He also described school days in which he was driven to contemplate suicide by the harassment he experienced. Member of Parliament Ken Livingstone (Labour-Brent East) expressed dismay that homophobia appears to remain a socially-acceptable bigotry among young people, and called for education to combat the fear and ignorance that lead to violence. Several speakers called for repeal of the notorious Section 28 (now more than a decade old, it prohibits local governments from devoting any resources to "promotion" of homosexuality) because it has interfered with schools developing anti-homophobia programs.
OutRage! declared that they want not only words of sympathy, but government action against hate crimes, and criticized the Blair government for failing to enact a hate crimes measure the group had proposed last year. Tatchell also charged that in leading opposition in the House of Lords to equalizing the age of consent for sex between men with that for heterosexual acts, "Baroness Young fueled the hate; the bomber lit the fuse."
More than 400 people attended the service at St. Anne's in support of the families and friends of the dead. Each left small candles all around the church garden. The Pink Singers performed at that service.
[Ed. note: Donations to assist the victims of all three bombings can be sent to Massow Financial Services Limited, 36 - 38, West Street, London WC2H9NA. Checks should be made out to "April Bombing Appeal." Massow Financial Services can be reached by phone at 0171-539-7777.]
