To: The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

National Recognition for Prejudice and Oppression

1. A national day of commemoration for those who have lost their lives, been hurt in a physical, mental and emotional way as a result of prejudice and/or oppression.
2. A national two minute silence in the same way as Remembrance Day.
3. A national memorial built along the lines of the National Memorial Aboretum.

Why is this important?

Events this year have sharpened our thoughts about the need to have a fuller debate about prejudice and oppression within society. The Black Lives Matter campaign has highlighted injustices within society but, more so, in our cultural psyche, which warn against innate and subliminal prejudice against many groups within society.

As a teacher of History and Politics, I don't think dwelling on the relevance of statues (as important as that debate is to many), or playing tokenism with Black History Month, World Days etc. is enough.

All groups in society who have experienced actual loss and abuse as a result of prejudice and oppression - not just in racial affairs, but every group who has felt shunned - need others to empathise and follow a path of 'allyship'. In doing so, we can begin to defeat inward cultural bias towards minority groups and all those who have suffered as a result of prejudice and oppression.

British society rightly remembers its war dead and all those who fought for our freedoms against oppression and prejudice. It is time for British society to also mark those who have suffered in highlighting acts of prejudice and oppression - their own stories which are a central narrative to our history - in shaping not only a tolerant but, also, more accepting society. A society where we can all show the same solidarity we do every year on 11th of November as a mark of respect.

This is why a structural change in how we commemorate our history is needed alongside Armistice Day, Holocaust Memorial Day and others. A place of commemoration is also needed. Thank you for signing.