On August 24th, 2007, Sophie Lancaster was kicked to death for being a goth by a gang of feral youths. In her name a charity, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, was set up. Today she would have been 25. Many people have lit a candle in remembrance. I can't as it would set the apartment building fire-alarms off and the landlady doesn't want candles and other flames. I'd light one outside, but this is Scotland in November and it is raining sideways. As I cannot light a candle for her, I'd like to do something else.
Remember her. Remember the life of a beautiful, creative, wonderful young woman whose life was tragically cut short by people addled by alcohol and without remorse, compassion or any of the other traits of human goodness that Sophie had. Remember all the other people, like Sophie's boyfriend Robert Maltby, and more recently Melody McDermott, who have been beaten to hospitalisation by violent thugs acting on nothing more than than what these people were wearing. Remember everyone else who has been bullied, harassed and intimidated for doing nothing more than expressing themselves creatively. Remember, and do what you can to stop these things happening again. If you can, do something to support those doing good work in Sophie's memory.
This is a lovely photo of her. And a lovely tribute!
ReplyDeleteI don't know who took the photo to credit it, but it was the one supplied to the BBC. I thought she was smiling nicely in that one. If you haven't visited the Sophie Lancaster Foundation website already, please do so.
DeleteBeautiful post. The fact that things like this happen is just sickening. Thank you for honoring Sophie on her birthday,
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is that there are still violent people out there who will attack people for being different. At least people like the S.O.P.H.I.E charity are working to change that, slowly.
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