Gavin deserves better

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 12 February 2012, 10:21

It is ten years ago this week that 19 year-old Gavin Hopley was murdered on the streets on Oldham. He and two friend were in search of a taxi back to their home town of Rochdale when they were chased and attacked by a group of men. Gavin's friends managed to get away, but he was less fortunate. He was kicked and punched to death in what the court was told was a "very frightening and completely unjustified attack."

Six Asian men were subsequently convicted and jailed for the attack.

We were quite clear at the time that this was an outrageous and unprovoked attack and we condemned it immediately in the campaign material we put out in Oldham. Under the banner, 'No to violence, no to racism', we warned of a growing cycle of violence and racism that mirrored the months leading up to the Oldham riots a year before.

Ten years on, a group of Nazis, racists and thugs gathered outside Oldham police station to commemorate his death. Among them were Jock Shearer, Kevin Bryan and Ade Brooks, three of the most notorious extremists in the area. Fortunately, there appeared less than a dozen of them and this hopefully reflects the lack of support these extremists have locally.

Any anniversary must be difficult for the Hopley family. Their son's name being exploited by this small band of racist thugs only adds insult to injury.