Thank you Herman Ouseley

Journey to Justice (JtoJ) will always be honoured to have had Baron Herman Ouseley, one of the UK’s most outstanding public servants, as a founding and distinguished patron. Most famous nationally for being founder and Chair of Kick It Out, and with a fantastic range of influential roles including as Chief Executive of the Inner London Education Authority and Commission for Racial Equality, his whole life was one of commitment to equality and against racism and all forms of discrimination.
In 2015 Herman and Lord Jeremy Beecham hosted an evening at the House of Lords to celebrate our work with young people from George Mitchell School in Leyton, east London. Known for his advocacy on behalf of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and living his values, before the event, he took the students to the House of Lords gallery and made them feel the place belonged to them. He was brilliant, never talking down to them. He gave them respect, interest and wisdom.
Herman spoke movingly at a preview of the film Selma JtoJ organised to fundraise for our civil rights exhibition. He was our main speaker at the launch of the exhibition at Morley College, Lambeth on MLK Day in 2017. There he talked about his dreadful experience of ‘racial profiling’ by police in the 1970s and how it galvanised him to be a dedicated activist against racism. He was a force for good.
Another of our brilliant patrons and one of the UK’s leading human rights barrister, Lady Helena Kennedy of the Shaws LT KC wrote, “The contribution Herman made to the lives of so many is immeasurable. He was a great social reformer and believed firmly that to create a fair society there had to be justice and we had to end discrimination in all its forms. He was respected by everyone who knew him. I made common cause with him on many campaigns for change. I will miss him greatly.”
“I remember the first time I met Baron Herman Ousley at the 25th anniversary of Kick It Out. We had a Journey to Justice stall, and he came over to greet all the volunteers. He was warm, gentle, kind, and welcoming—I’ll always remember him that way, and he left a lasting impression on me. His legacy will forever be a part of the fabric of JtoJ, and we will continue the quest for justice, fairness, and solidarity, just as Baron Herman Ousley so wonderfully embodied throughout his life. We can’t thank him enough.” Tania Aubeelack, Chair of Journey to Justice
In his own words, here is Lord Ouseley’s endorsement of our work:
“There is no justice without struggle and so much injustice and inequality still to be overcome. Reminding us all of the sacrifices made by many to secure justice for those who suffered and continue to suffer discrimination, will be a dynamic feature of the work of Journey to Justice. It will provide inspiration to the present and next generation who need to know about those struggles and get involved with others to challenge all forms of inequality and injustice.”
He was that inspiration – a very special man and a wonderful support. With our thanks and love Herman, rest in peace.
See Herman speaking at an event he hosted for Journey to Justice at the House of Lords in 2015 (approximately 6.25 minutes in).