Lee Rigby’s mum wants people to stop using his image to argue against Black Lives Matter protests

Lee Rigby’s mum has issued a statement urging people not to use his murder against the current protests. 

Lee Rigby, a fusilier from Middleton in Greater Manchester, was killed outside his barracks in Woolwich in 2013 by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale who are both now serving life sentences.

Lee’s mother has issued a statement urging people to stop sharing posts online with his image and details of his murder in hateful responses to the protests and the Black Lives Matter campaigning across the world.

Her statement reads: “We are aware of a number of posts using images of Lee and his murder in a divisive way to fuel arguments against the Black Lives Matter protests.”

It continues: “Seeing his image used to cause hate of any kind especially for those exercising their freedoms in protest against this issue hurts.”

“We find these posts extremely heartbreaking and distressing, and in complete opposition to what Lee stood for.”

“We ask you all to please stop using his image and memory in such posts as he was a lover of all humanity. Every race, gender, creed, sexuality and colour.”

Lee’s mother shared the post on the Lee Rigby Foundation Facebook Page which was designed to offer care, support and advice to bereaved military families, veterans and UK military suffering from bereavement or loss. The page now has over 75,000 followers.

The statement received an overwhelming response with 31,000 shares and almost 600 comments in support. 

Many of the comments support Lyn Rigby’s statement and some have used the statement as an opportunity to correct their wrongs with one user putting: “I was guilty I am deeply sorry I didn’t mean to offend his memory or upset any of his family. And please accept my deepest apologies. I have taken my post down .”

This comment received wide support for taking the post down as admitting you are wrong and apologising ‘takes a lot’.