We will not forget, we will not forget
13 dead and nothing said we will not forget
We will not forget, no we will not forget
13 dead and nothing said we will not forget
Fire fire bun young ones in a London City New Cross
How can the be justice when the bombers are the boss
13 young lives wasted their fascist way of life
And if you walk the streets they wan’ fi to stab you with a knife
We will not forget no we will not forget
13 dead and nothing said we cannot forget
We will not forget no we will not forget
13 dead and nothing said we will not forget
Dem have no right fi bomb us, dem have no right at all
As fire burn in New Cross politicians have a ball
Black people will stand firm until the table turn
Black people will stand firm against the ugly fascist worm
It’s plain and clear to see, is true reality
You cannot live in fear at night and say that you are free
And we all know it’s true what do authorities do
Dem don’t do nothing dem don’t care ‘cause dem are bombers too
And we will not forget no we cannot forget
13 dead and nothing said, we will not forget
We will not forget no we cannot forget
13 dead and nothing said we will not forget
Fire fire bun young ones in a London City New Cross
How can the be justice when the bombers are the boss
© Benjamin Zephaniah
Patrick Cummings, 21 September 1964 – 18 January 1981
Andrew Gooding,18 February 1966 – 18 January 1981
Peter Campbell, 23 February 1962 – 18 January 1981
Gerry Paul Francis, 21 August 1963 – 18 January 1981
Steve Collins, 2 May 1963 – 18 January 1981
Patricia Johnson, 16 May 1965 – 18 January 1981
Rosaline Henry, 23 September 1964 – 18 January 1981
Lloyd Hall, 28 November 1960 – 18 January 1981
Humphrey Geoffrey Brown, 4 July 1962 – 18 January 1981
Owen Thompson, 11 September 1964 – 18 January 1981
Yvonne Ruddock, 17 January 1965 – 24 January 1981
Glenton Powell, 18 January 1966 – 25 January 1981
Paul Ruddock, 19 November 1958 – 9 February 1981
Anthony Berbeck, 17 August 1962 – 9 July 1983
We remember and hail the New Cross martyrs. We also hail the survivors, as valiant repositories of a painful the narrative as well as the families and friends who have the spirit of New Cross alive.
Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan will certainly not forget as we commemorate 44 years since the New Cross Massacre of January 18th, also referred to as the New Cross Fire. (1)
There will be a memorial service due to take place on Saturday 18 January 2025 from 10.30am at All Saint’s Church and Community Centre, 105 New Cross Road, London, SE14 5DJ, which will be livestreamed. The following day will be the “New Cross Fire Annual Remembrance, Reflection and Prayer Open Day” at Hither Green crematorium from 10:30am to 3pm. (2)
Also on the 19th Auntie Jean’s Afrikan Culture Market will hold it’s annual commemoration between 2pm and 8pm at Magdalen Hall, Purbrook Street, SE1 3DQ, which will feature The New Cross Fire Foundation and Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka.
Forty-four years on there remains just two ‘Open’ inquest verdicts and a mountain of unanswered questions and the apparent maintenance of the indifferent state response to the Massacre compared to, for example, the immediate displays of compassion in response to the Stardust Nightclub fire in Dublin, Ireland in February 1981. (3)
Interestingly, the families of the Stardust victims have been on their own quest which saw the 1981 inquest verdict dismissed in 2009. A new inquest began in 2023 and in 2024 delivered a verdict of unlawful killing. (4) Within months, the Irish cabinet signed off on a €24 million (approx £20 million) redress scheme for the Stardust families, which followed the £10.4 million compensation paid out in 1986. (5) Although money cannot be equated with justice it does show that persistence can garner results.
Meanwhile, the New Cross Massacre remains an unsolved crime, even if there are sharply divergent views of its cause. (6) Yet there is general consensus that the ensuing investigation was tainted by racism. (7) This racism was seen by the Afrikan community as being endemic to every level of society from the ‘Battle of Lewisham’ a few years earlier to the aforementioned state indifference to the massacre, inspiring the phrase “13 dead, nothing said.” It’s a racism that very much back in vogue fuelled by government ministers, senior politicians, the white grievance ecosystem down to their thuggish minions on the street. (8)
The examples of Hillborough and Stardust show that campaigners must be prepared for a long haul, something the Grenfell families to consider. Part of this involves keeping the issues in the collective consciousness. One recent development that may assist with this is the New Cross Fire Foundation, set up in 2022 “by friends and family members of 14 young black people who lost their lives.” The foundation “is dedicated to ensuring that the Black Caribbean Community receives the support it deserves, provided by individuals who can directly relate to their experiences.” (9)
(1) Kehinde Andrews (17/01/21) Forty years on from the New Cross fire, what has changed for black Britons? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/17/forty-years-on-from-the-new-cross-fire-what-has-changed-for-black-britons
(2) Lewisham Council (28/11/24) New Cross Fire 44th anniversary. https://lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/events/remembering-new-cross-fire
(3) Aaron Andrews (2021) Truth, Justice, and Expertise in 1980s Britain: the Cultural Politics of the New Cross Massacre in History Workshop Journal, Volume 91, Issue 1, Spring 2021, Pages 182–209. https://academic.oup.com/hwj/article/91/1/182/6307077; Simi Ade-Ojo (10/02/21) The New Cross fire 40 years on: 13 dead, nothing said. https://communist.red/the-new-cross-fire-40-years-on-13-dead-nothing-said/
(4) Aoife Moore (18/04/24) Apology call after nightclub fire deaths verdict. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0rvgg7dlzo
(5) Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (09/08/24) Cabinet signs off on €24m Stardust redress scheme. https://www.rte.ie/news/stardust/2024/0809/1464238-stardust-redress/; Caroline O’Doherty (12/02/18) How fire that destroyed the Stardust in 1981 devastated lives for decades. https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-30827585.html
(6) Harry Howard and Monica Greep (24/07/21) Families of 1981 New Cross fire victims stand by claims it was a ‘racist attack’ sparked by a driver who threw missile at house – but ex-Met Police detective insists there was ‘no evidence of firebomb’ in blaze that killed 13 people. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9818041/Families-1981-New-Cross-fire-victims-stand-claims-racist-attack.html; Nadine White (02/11/21) 1981 New Cross fire which killed 13 ‘wasn’t racist attack,’ survivor says amid new fears over prison confession. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/new-cross-fire-survivor-speaks-b1949219.html
(7) Sinai Fleary (19/01/23) White New Cross Fire survivor says police used racist language to describe victims. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2023/01/19/white-new-cross-fire-survivor-says-police-used-racist-language-to-describe-victims/; Frankie Adkins (18/01/21) ’13 dead, nothing said’ – remembering the New Cross Fire. https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/19019348.13-dead-nothing-said—remembering-new-cross-tragedy/
(8) Padraig O’Neill (12.08.23) Remembering the Battle of Lewisham. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/08/remembering-the-battle-of-lewisham-2; Andrews. Op. cit.; Peter Walker (05/01/25) Badenoch defends Jenrick’s remarks about ‘people from alien cultures’. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/05/badenoch-defends-jenricks-remarks-about-people-from-alien-cultures; Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (22/01/24) What political options do we have? https://alkebulan.org/2024/01/21/aswag-469-what-political-options/; Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (12/08/24) UK Riots: Why Now? https://alkebulan.org/2024/08/12/aswag-497-uk-riots-why-now/; Judith Moritz (29/05/21) After a 32-year battle for justice, what is Hillsborough’s legacy? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57281398
(9) Darren Lewis (18/01/21) Grenfell Tower’s chilling echoes of the tragic New Cross fire. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/darren-lewis-grenfell-towers-chilling-23340934
New Cross@44: Why does it still matter?
1) How does the racial climate today compare to 1981?
2) What lessons can be learned from the Hillsborough and Stardust campaigns?
3) Is monetary compensation due?
4) How can this issue be kept in our collective consciousness?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Dr. Auntie Jean: is and organiser, activist and founder of Auntie Jean’s Afrikan Culture Market and the owner of the Garvey Village. The Garvey Village is an organization that encourages self-esteem, vocational training, and skills, ICT, media, etc. They also provide a Legal Surgery, an Elders Club (Senior Citizens) Healthy Eating, Counselling, and business ideas that would generate income for the center. She is also the host of the radio show the Auntie Jean Zone on Black Culture Radio. Where she invites members of the community to discuss important issues concerning our community every Friday from 7pm to 10 pm GMT, & Sundays from 7pm to 11pm
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