LONDON — A plaque near a bus stop marks where black teenager Stephen Lawrence took his last few breaths and serves as a grim reminder of one of Britain’s most notorious racist crimes.

The memorial at the site of Lawrence’s killing — which has been described as the U.K’s “Rosa Parks moment” — has been vandalized several times. That strikes me as a sign that deep hatred still exists.

Stephen Lawrence: 2 men found guilty in UK black teen’s murder

I’m a black south Londoner. And almost two decades after the slaying, I still feel very anxious walking through certain streets in Eltham after dark.

Family of UK murder victim never stopped seeking justice

Lawrence, 18, was stabbed to death by a gang of white youths in an unprovoked attack as he waited at the bus stop in Eltham, south London, in 1993. The investigation was bungled and despite multiple court appearances by suspects over the years no one was convicted until Tuesday. …

Read the full essay at NBC’s World Blog