A memorial to Cherry Groce is set to be unveiled at Windrush Square on Sunday, April 25, 35 and a half years after her shooting sparked the Brixton Riot of 1985.  

Due to Covid-19 restrictions the event will be live streamed from 11am.

The online broadcast will feature the 15 official guests taking part in the unveiling, including Mrs Groce’s family. 

Dorothy ‘Cherry’ Groce was shot by police when they raided her house looking for her son. 

Four of her children were at home at the time, while her son was never charged.  Cherry was left paralysed from the waist down.  

Two days of riots ensued as the community protested institutional racism and systemic injustice faced by Black people.   

In 2011, Mrs Groce contracted an infection which led to kidney failure, and she passed away on Easter Sunday.   

It was only in March 2014 that the Met Police apologised for the wrongful shooting – in July of that year an inquest jury concluded that eight police failures had led to Mrs Groce’s death.       

The installation, designed by architect Sir David Adjaye, has been organised and funded by the council in partnership with the Groce family and Adjaye Associates. 

It has also received significant contributions from both the local business community and the public.  

Mrs Groce’s son Lee Lawrence has written about the shooting and the impact of the Met Police’s action on his life, on his mother’s life, and on the whole community.  

He won the Costa biography award in January this year for the memoir, The Louder I Will Sing.  

Mr Lawrence said: “The unveiling of the memorial is a fitting tribute to my mother and to our community.  

“The injustice done to my mother on the September 28, 1985 and its aftermath, catalysed our community to act together relentlessly and persistently in the pursuit of justice for more than three decades.  

“Our achievements together in that effort can inspire us to continue to work together to make justice a reality across our society.” 

Cllr Jack Hopkins, Lambeth Council Leader, said: “We are proud to be working alongside the Groce family and Sir David on this fitting memorial to Cherry Groce, an innocent woman from our borough who experienced terrible suffering as a result of a major injustice. 

“We hail the Groce family for their commitment in getting to the truth of Cherry’s shooting, for their resilience in the face of suffering and for their determination to create a long lasting tribute to their mum which will make sure this injustice will not be forgotten.” 

There will also be an online event later in the day named 'Together We Rise' in conjunction with The Voice newspaper between 4pm and 6pm.

Free tickets can be downloaded here.