EMLD and Unite Against Facism celebrate Black History Month with friends and supporters at Mission Grove Primary School, Walthamstow, hosted by Parliamentary Candidate Farid Ahmed.

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Oct 2009

Vince Cable MP gave the opening keynote speech at the event reminding everyone that Britain's black population can be traced back as far as the 12th Century! By the 18th century there were as many as 10,000, mostly residing in London. In 1892, the first Black Asian Member of Parliament Dadabhai Naraoji, a Liberal MP was elected in Finsbury Central, and Mr Cable hoped to see more Black MPs after the next elections.

Peter Ashan, local historian shared light on more luminous figures who had been part of this hidden history of Great Britain and lauded them for their consistent fight against racism. As a result there is now a thriving multi-ethnic community in Waltham Forest.

Merlene Carrington, JP and member of Operation Black Vote encouraged more black and Asians to put themselves forward as local Magistrates and to be role models on the right side of the justice system.

There were many others who spoke, sang and generally contributed to the evening's celebrations including Labour turned Lib Dem Cllr Milton Martin.

"We would like not only to promote knowledge of black history but also to help our brothers and sisters continue to make history and create a fairer and more tolerant Britain" said Farid. And we hope that he will too, come May 2010!