BRIDGE BUILDERS
PAST EVENTS
BRIDGE BUILDERS' PETITION GOES TO HOME SECRETARY
A peace petition from young people in Newham has so impressed East Ham MP Stephen Timms that he is passed it directly to Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
The petition, which calls on central and local government to step up security for youngsters in the borough and London as a whole, was drawn up by volunteers with the Newham multi-cultural charity Bridge Builders In Unity.
A dozen Bridge Builders marched seven miles from Newham Town Hall to Westminster to present the petition signed by hundreds of Newham youngsters to Mr Timms on Wednesday, September 23.
The marchers were seen off from the town hall by Councillors Unmesh Desai and Sukhdeb Singh Marway and Deputy Borough Police Commander Gary Buttercase together with community and faith leaders. A police escort accompanied the young people on the first leg of the march.
Four hours later at Westminster, in a half-hour discussion with the marchers, Mr Timms heard of their concerns. They recounted their individual experiences of street attacks, including murder, on themselves or people they knew.
Mr Timms acknowledged that despite inevitable public service cuts the youngsters were calling on government to maintain, even step up, spending on policing and security measures for the protection of young people.
Mr Timms felt the sentiments expressed were sufficiently powerful for him to send the petition on to the Home Secretary.
Gowri Pillai, project director of Bridge Builders, said afterwards: It was an inspirational march. We felt we were carrying an important message to government and, as a member of that government, Stephen Timms gave our young volunteers a sincere and effective hearing.