Research shows that 60% of individuals in the UK are in favor of apologizing for slavery

In the UK, a research conducted by The Repair Campaign found that three in five people believe that Caribbean nations and descendants of enslaved people should receive a formal apology for the horrors of transatlantic chattel slavery. More than half of those surveyed think the apology should come from the UK Government or organizations that historically profited from slavery. The campaign has launched a petition calling for reparations, with 64% of people familiar with the idea of making amends for the UK’s historical involvement in slavery through reparations.

Denis O’Brien, the architect of The Repair Campaign, highlighted the importance of starting with an apology, as a step towards reparatory justice. He emphasized that the UK’s wealth was generated from the free labor and lands of enslaved Africans, calling it a 300-year holocaust. O’Brien expressed gratitude for the support for an apology and reparations, stating that the UK cannot ignore calls for justice any longer. He urged the government to take action, emphasizing the need to strengthen connections within communities and between the UK and the Caribbean.

Laura Trevelyan, a trustee of the Trevelyan Grenada Reparations Fund, commented on the encouraging findings of the research. She highlighted the importance of awareness of the present-day legacies of slavery and the campaign for reparatory justice. Trevelyan emphasized the need for justice for the descendants of enslaved Africans, especially as the abolition of slavery in Britain took place 190 years ago. She stressed the importance of redoubling efforts to secure justice for those who suffered under Britain’s government-sanctioned slave trade.

Professor Verene Shepherd, director of the Centre for Reparation Research at The University of the West Indies, called for full and formal apologies from past and present colonial powers for their participation in the trafficking and enslavement of Africans. She pointed out that the passing of the ‘Slave Trade Abolition Act’ by Britain in 1807 did not end the suffering of enslaved Africans, as ships continued to capture and transport Africans even after the act was passed. Shepherd urged countries like Britain to take responsibility for their actions and use the Caricom Ten Point Plan as a blueprint for reparatory justice in the region.

The polling conducted by The Repair Campaign and Walnut Omnibus surveyed 2016 adults across Great Britain in February 2024. The research reflects a growing awareness and support for an apology and reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans. As the campaign for reparatory justice gains momentum, advocates like Denis O’Brien, Laura Trevelyan, and Professor Verene Shepherd are calling for accountability, acknowledgement, and reparations for the historical injustices of transatlantic chattel slavery.