1/The world needs more Mark Tunnicliffe’s https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏾" title="Folded hands (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (medium dark skin tone)">

Mark was an acquaintance of mine at school - we were both 14 at the time & I sat with him in a few classes!

Even though we wasn’t close friends, I would go on to never forget his name, what he did for me and tell the story in my https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="📖" title="Open book" aria-label="Emoji: Open book">!

2/We got on a bus after school in Quorn to come home.. Mark was heading to Mountsorrel, me to Beaumont Leys-

We headed upstairs & to the back (the cool place to sit! Especially when you’re 14yr Olds)as we rounded the stairs I noticed 2 older lads about 20 yrs old on the back row

3/Only seats available were just in front of these lads.. everything inside of me, told me to turn around & go & sit downstairs but the pride in me wouldn’t allow that, so I continued. As soon as they set eyes on me they nudged each other & lent forward, whispering to one another

4/I felt an unease, a fear & I knew the only characteristic that separated me from everyone else on that bus was my skin colour!
After seconds of sitting down the abuse started! A slap round the head, with the comment:
“You are a disgrace to this world!”

5/Black B******!, N*****!, why don’t you F*** back off to where you came from etc etc more slaps, punches to the back of my head! I didn’t fight back,just mumbled what’s your problem,leave me alone etc

And then this kid, Mark Tunnicliffe, 14yrs old, 5 foot nothing, small, skinny

6/remember wasn’t a close friend at the time... Stands! & faces these 20yr olds & begins trying to dress them down with a collection of words in the strongest defences of me & my skin colour! & I just looked at him in Orr & felt a pride in my heart,someone who I wasn’t that close

7/too, would stand for me like that! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙌🏾" title="Raising hands (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Raising hands (medium dark skin tone)">
He got a slap for his troubles & called a N***** lover!

I will always admire Mark & always think of him! He & his actions are at the forefront of my mind every time I read,witness or hear of racial incidents and discrimination!

8/We need to stand together & for each other! No matter of skin colour & have the strength to call it out,just like Mark did!

Mark died from Meningitis not long after the incident https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😢" title="Crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Crying face"> but I will never forget himhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙌🏾" title="Raising hands (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Raising hands (medium dark skin tone)">

Rest in power brotherhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💙" title="Blue heart" aria-label="Emoji: Blue heart">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👊🏾" title="Fisted hand (medium dark skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Fisted hand (medium dark skin tone)">

The https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌍" title="Earth globe europe-africa" aria-label="Emoji: Earth globe europe-africa"> needs more Mark Tunnicliffe’s!