OBV: 20 years fighting for race equality

Twenty years ago this week, - 16th July 1996 - we launched OBV at the House of Commons. Our goal, in part, was to tackle race inequality through the democratic process.

A few people have said to me; ‘why aren’t you making more of your 20th Anniversary at OBV? ’

'We will', I’ve replied, 'but now isn’t the right time. There’s too much to be done'.

This in essence has been the DNA of Operation Black Vote: To serve our communities the very best we can. And to do it not for the plaudits, although they are nice when they come, but because it is the right thing to do.

Many of you who know me, know that I amnever tired of telling the story of how OBV was born: Brixton 1995, a community erupted following the news that no police officer would be held to account for the death of Wayne Douglas, yet another black man who died in Police custody.

After the days and weeks that followed that disturbance came the inexorable cry that we needed power: Black political power that would not ask for justice and equality, but demand it. Seven months later OBV was born.

I feel immensely privileged having spent most of my adult life serving the community with this one extremely special project. With so many special individuals we’ve done great things both big and small. Parliament has gone from 4 BME MPs to over 40. The BME vote in any election is now a growing force to be reckoned with. We’ve nurtured over 100 magistrates throughout the country.

Many hundreds more have joined other public appointments and/or community organisations to ensure BME voices around decision making tables. It is a matter of fact that every Prime Minister and political leader since Tony Blair has sought a positive dialogue with OBV because of the BME voting clout and the organisations standing with communities.

It’s also true to say that our team has literally spoken face to face to hundreds of thousands of people; be that through schools, colleges, university, unions, political meetings , rallies and in the work place. Through the media that number goes into the many millions.

But it’s the impact that matters most. Imagine for a second, going into a school not just to talk politics but to nourish soul of young students - black and white - with the belief they are truly special and their community and wider society needs their success. In part that’s what the OBV team seeks to achieve.

There are many areas and elements that we are truly proud of too: For example, defeating the then Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove, who attempted to erase all Black history - British and beyond - from the Primary school curriculum; The 16 year journey with OBV alumni Marvin Rees, who this year become Bristol’s Mayor is also pretty special, as is the seeing other OBV Almuni reach high office including Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Helen Grant MP and Clive Lewis MP.

But one of the greatest joys has been working with so many dedicated individuals past, present and hopefully future who have given their hearts and souls to help OBV serve our communities.

Right now we’re dealing the horrific rise in hate crime and a general climate of fear of the other in the UK . Our work is to bring people together and demand zero tolerance on racial hatred and abuse
But yes, later on in the year we will celebrate this extra ordinary milestone. That’s part of who we are too. And we will ask for your continued support.

But today I want to say thank you to you our supporters, funders, and ,as much as my memory and archives permit, to all those staff and volunteers who have made OBV an organisation that endeavours to makes a massive difference to our lives.

Thank you.

Simon Woolley

Some but not all the OBV team over 20 years- If we’ve missed your name out please contact us

Aisha Hassan
Ashok Viswanathan
Audrey Adams
Charles Ssempijja
Dave Weaver
Derek Hinds
Faz Hakim
Francine Fernandes
Jyoti Bhojani
Lee Jasper
Leon Green
Lester Holloway
Louise Alexander
Meena Dhobi
Merlene Carrington
Paul Hensby
Rafiq Maricar
Rita Patel
Samantha Watson
Simon Woolley
Winsome Cornish
Zohaib Rashid

INTERNS:

Adam Charles
Alan Ssempebwa
Alex Boadi
Alexander Paul
Alexandra Fox
Amina
Andi Guede
Angela Hinds
Angelica Encinales
Anthony Iban
Anthony K
Arita Pecaka
Arslan
Ashlea Williams
Ashley Burton-Lynch
Ashon
Belinda Schwartz
Ben Fraimow
Berny Torre
Briana Bell
Caroline Hussey-Bain
Cassie Rodgers
Chike
Chizom Ekeh
Chloe Hart
Cindy Asokan
Cinzia C Ezeanyim
Daniel Reuel
Danielle Thompson
Danny Mucinskas
Faith Jegede
Firdous Amin
Fortune Achonna
Grant Thorn
Hanifi Aladag
Ijeoma Mbubaegbu
Isaac Luhasu
Jaanki Bhojani
James Gill
Jayme Williams
Jennifer Jahreiss
Joi
Jordan
Joseph Adewunmi
Kathryn Bergamini
Kehinde Ibrahim
Kei-Retta Farrell
Kieran Sinclair
kishan
Lian
L'myah Ross
Lordina Yankey
Mallory Moench
Mary Schlichte
Mathieu Milbourne
Matthew Hart
Mems Ayinla
Mirella S. Manhombo
Misha Sylver
Mohamed Ali
Mohand Nour
Nadine Alexander
Narku Laing
Natalie Simon
Nilay Tuncok
Oksana Trofimenko
Parmila Kumari
Philippa de Lacy
Priscilla Mensah
Profidential Frimpong
Raks Patel
Regina Abena Nyametscher-Amoabeng
Rhona Asmah
Richard Sudan
Rishab
Robert Austin
Robert Okpuru
Roshni Vekereya
Rubi
Rukayah Sarumi
Ruth Hirsch
Sara McCallum
Sarah Hardie
Sarah Nwandu
Sarah Ojo
Shanice Louis
Shuman
Simone CH
Sulekha Hassan
Sundeep Hayer
Teasha Bayles
Thomas Bower
Usman Butt
Viktor Dubrava
Zena Agha