“If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white.
If you’re a white, working-class boy, you’re less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university.”

These were the statements of the new Prime Minister Theresa May outside number 10 Downing Street on the day of her appointment. These are issues that are being researched by the Movement for Justice and Reconciliation. We recognise them as legacies of colonial slavery and industrial exploitation so we welcome the fact that we have a Prime Minister who at least recognises some of the injustices that are embedded in our unequal society.

We welcome the statement by Prime Minister Theresa May, “The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few but by yours.”

It is our hope that the new Government will not only recognise the issues of injustice in the nation but will actively initiate policies that will result in systemic change to deal with these injustices. MJR pledge support for all measures that will actually change the structures of society in a way that will provide equal opportunity for those who have, for too long, been marginalised in our nation.

In November 2016 we will be publishing the results of a research programme that deals with some of the issues recognised by Mrs May which we hope will make a substantive contribution to understanding these issues and providing a basis for dealing with them.

Read the letter to Mrs May from MJR.

Monday's 'Black Lives Matter' march in Manchester gathered 3-4000 who came together in solidarity with similar protests in the US. While mostly members of our African-Caribbean community, it was good to see a number of people of other colours - including white - in the crowd as each injustice diminishes all of us.  The event was good-humoured and celebratory, while at the same time expressing passion, anger and frustration. A member of the MJR Manchester group spoke at the rally before the march and said: "We collectively need to come together, black and white united and say 'this is not OK'". We also noted from the speeches at that rally and also at the end of the march outside Manchester's Town Hall the references to slavery and its legacy of continued oppression, and repeated emphasis on the need for education. What was clear to me was the hunger for justice and truth: exactly what MJR was set up for. We need to tap into this hunger and serve by helping to provide that teaching, but in a way that channels these strong feelings in a positive direction. No small task, and it will be vital that the churches and their leaders play a prominent and encouraging part. When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem he began with the problem identified by the people – the need for security and identity – their agenda, before later bringing them back to the Law of Moses. Do the ​churches need to do the same?