Chinese language victims of Morecambe Bay cockle harvesting tragedy remembered 20 years on.
About 23 Chinese language women and men drowned when a rising tide lower them off the coast on the night of February 5, 2004.
All have been victims of slave labor and have been smuggled into the nation from Fujian province in southeast China looking for a greater life.
Two years after the tragedy, their gangmaster Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter.
A memorial service might be held on Monday night on the Cocklers' Memorial subsequent to the RNLI station in Morecambe Bay.
It is going to be led by the Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, and the Rector of Morecambe Parish Church, Chris Krawiec.
Bishop North stated: “This might be a solemn second for the Morecambe neighborhood as we come collectively to recollect the harmless lives misplaced to greed and slavery within the waters of Morecambe Bay.
“We mourn and pray for the households and beloved Chinese language brothers and sisters who died 20 years in the past, and for an finish to the curse of contemporary slavery.”
Rev Krawiec added: “In instances like this you will need to come collectively as a neighborhood, which is itself made up of various communities, to acknowledge and bear in mind.
“In doing so, we additionally think about how, 20 years on, human trafficking and trendy slavery stay an enormous downside, and we proceed to name for change and motion to finish the scourge of contemporary slavery.”
The service code expresses “deep unhappiness” on the deaths, including: “We additionally lengthy for the day when susceptible individuals are not focused, groomed and humiliated.”
On the service, the names of the victims might be learn and attendees might be supplied a conch to remove as an enduring reminder of the continuing combat towards trendy slavery and those that died that day.
The Mayor, Councilor Roger Dennison, stated: “At this unhappy time, our ideas are with the households of those that died on this horrible incident 20 years in the past, in addition to all of the others who’ve misplaced their lives in Morecambe Bay through the years.
“The tragedy was a stark reminder of the hazards posed by its treacherous tides.
“It's additionally a time to thank everybody who bravely risked their lives within the rescue operation, particularly the unpaid RNLI volunteers.”
