British African Caribbean Community Leaders Condemn Prime Minister Boris Johnson Secret Meeting With Hand Picked Leaders.

For Immediate Release.

Wednesday, 26 February 2020 9:44:15 am

Subject: British African Caribbean Community Leaders Condemn Prime Minister Boris Johnson Secret Meeting With Hand Picked Leaders.

This evening Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will hold a secret meeting at number 10 Downing Street. He has invited representatives from a number of African and Caribbean representatives from government consultative forums and community organisations, for a private discussion around issues such as the Windrush compensation scheme, Jamaica deportations, and other related issues.

The meeting has invited a select few to hear from the Prime Minister and his team their responses to some of the trenchant criticisms levelled at the door of the Prime Minister in relation to his policies and views as they relate to Britain’s African and Caribbean communities in the UK.

We believe this to be nothing more than a cynical exercise in public relations management, in an effort to convince a number of high profile African and Caribbean individuals of his respect and admiration for our community.

African and Caribbean communities in response to the deep anger and furore will feel deeply disappointed by this secret meeting. Across the county, there is rising and profound anger in relation to a number of critical issues.

These include;

• the recent employment of an ideological racist, Andrew Sabinksy, as a senior policy adviser to the Prime Minister;
• the delayed publication and the reported dilution of Wendy Williams Windrush Lessons Learned Review;
• the failure of the Windrush Compensation Scheme to ensure that people obtain adequate support to make viable claims, make offers in a timely manner and that reflect the actual pain and suffering people have endured. The fact that the Home Office has admitted to only paying out £63,000 to 32 after almost two years of the scandal is deeply disturbing;
• the recent deportation flight to Jamaica and the judicial challenge to government and the consequent removal from that flight of many individuals whose legal and human rights had not been observed by government.
• Those in attendance are unknown to us and constitute a handpicked audience who will, no doubt be sworn to secrecy in relation to the detail of the meeting.

We hope that those in attendance will, in no uncertain terms, ensure that the Prime Minister and his team are left in no doubt about the huge level of anger and the anxiety caused by his government's actions, and policies in relation to Britain's African and Caribbean communities. 

There must be no doubt in his mind, or that of his team, that there is now a profound crisis of confidence in his administration about what appears to be an ideological objection to race equality and preference for the employment of individuals who advocate pseudoscientific racism of the most abhorrent kind.

We call on the Prime Minister to make a public statement that makes it absolutely clear that he does not believe in the genetic inferiority of black people.

The ending of all deportation flights until the unamended publication of the Wendy Williams Windrush Lessons Learned Report and the implementation of its recommendations.

A clear commitment to the ending of the policy of "hostile environment"

And finally, we call for you and all of the lookout a full judicial public inquiry into the Windrush scandal and the failure of the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

Lee Jasper Vice-Chair of BAME Lawyers for Justice.

"This government's appalling and sneering contempt in relation to Britain's African and Caribbean communities has been laid bare in recent weeks. Whether it's the hostile environment, the Windrush Scandal, the employment of ideological, pseudoscientific racists, or the trampling of black people's legal and human rights, this government’s racism exudes such a powerful stench you can taste it.

This Prime Minister needs to make it absolutely clear he does not support ideological racists and is committed to repairing the profound damage and insult his government has so far inflicted on Britain's African and Caribbean communities."

Jacqueline McKenzie of Beute and Pope solicitors and the Organisation for Migration Advice and Research.

“ Downing Street can meet whoever it wants to but these events do little to really address the issues affecting the Windrush generation and in particular those affected by the Windrush scandal, or relieve the pain and suffering of those who are affected by the hostile environment not just in immigration but in education, criminal justice, policing and many more areas.

Two years after the Windrush scandal, we still have people who are destitute, including homeless, we're still seeing major injustices of people who have not been allowed to return to the UK, we're still seeing people being denied citizenship by dint of very old convictions.

In addition, we're still seeing the grand and great-grandchildren of Windrushers who have lived most of their lives in the UK being deported and we are beyond shocked with the failure of the Home Office to set up a credible system of community and legal support to enable people to make viable and substantiated claims to the Windrush compensation scheme.”

Zita Holbourne, Chair of Black Activists against Racism and the Cuts (BARAC) UK.

“ What we need is openness, transparency and a commitment to end racism and injustices faced by BAME communities in the UK, not cosy secret gatherings. Until the Lessons Learned report is published and acted upon all deportations should be halted. Amongst those, the government sought to deport earlier this month were a blind man with no convictions and a man with a severe heart condition using breathing apparatus who was not fit to fly. Stopping institutional racism in the UK must be a priority for the government.”

Euen Herbert BAME Lawyers specialist advisor on British citizens born overseas.

“ The Windrush Scheme and its compensation scheme are filled with obstacles and hurdles many appear to be put in place to prevent victims from accessing the scheme. We have found there are great difficulties for persons claiming from overseas, my grandfather being one of those persons who moved to the UK in 1955 and is a British Citizen today with Right of Abode in the UK but no proof of this status. The Windrush team in the UK said in 2018 they would send a field team from the Toronto Visa office to his home in Kitchener near Ontario as he will be 90 years this year and is unable to travel to the Visa office.

My grandfather still gets his pension from the UK government and the Home Office has all the documentation to prove that he is British but is conveniently refusing to issue him with a status letter saying that he is British.

Another relative of mine (Mr Fleming) was naturalised in 2018 after the scandal broke, this was a convenient error by the Home Office. After I wrote to them in January 2019 they backtracked and issued him a status letter claiming that he has been British all his life. How does that affect compensation if he was led to believe he was only British since 2018. My grandfather shares the exact same status from the same Caribbean country. 

Trying to resolve his case ends with the Home Office hanging up the phone on me because he is outside of the UK.” I was sat behind Amber Rudd when she told the Home Affairs Select Committee that there were not Home Office targets for removal. When she got up to leave with her entourage I asked to apologise to Anthony Bryan, Hubert Howard (now deceased) & Sarah O’Connor (now deceased) she said “Sorry I haven’t got the Time I’m afraid” while staring into our face” I’m still shocked to this very day.

Miranda Grell Barrister at Law.

"The news today that the government seeks to convene a secret meeting of members of our community that it deems "compliant" with its agenda is insulting.
Since the Windrush scandal came to light, the government has treated the British African Caribbean community with no respect or dignity.
While the government continues to act in flagrant disregard of the rule of law in the way it treats African Caribbean residents of all ages - by deporting Black British citizens, not paying Windrush compensation and refusing to publish the Windrush Lessons Learned report - holding secret meetings beyond contempt."

End

Black boy dies after boy pushed him into river. CPS concludes not in public interest to prosecute.

Press Conference L-R
Lee Jasper, Alina Joseph (Mum). Hilary Brown and Shavanah Taj

Family of 13-year South Wales boy, Christopher Kapessa family accuses CPS and South Wales Police of institutional racism over failure to investigate and prosecute over son’s death.

The Family of Christopher Kapessa’s held a press conference at Bute Town Community Centre, 10 Loudoun Sq, Bute Town Cardiff, CF10 5UZ at 10 am on Monday the 24th February 2020 in response to the CPS decision not to prosecute anyone for Christopher’s death despite recently writing to the family indicating that there was “sufficient evidence” to consider a prosecution of Manslaughter.

The Kapessa family wanted a prosecution, based on the fact that the young people initially interviewed stated that Christopher has ‘slipped and fell” into the river when in fact he was pushed. That willful deception gravely extended and deepened the family’s grief and stress. They have waited eight months for the truth of what really happened at the time of Christopher’s death.

The family believes that that had a group of 14 black boys & girls been involved in a similar incident where a white boy lost his life the rigor, perspective, and conclusion of the initial police investigation and the application of the public interest test by the CPS would have reached entirely different conclusions.

The family believes this case has echoes of the culture of institutional racism uncovered in the Stephen Lawrence case where the dynamic of the ethnicity of the suspects and the victim conspired to pervert the course of justice.

Leading human right barrister Michael Mansfield QC has been instructed to represent the family.

Background.

Lee Jasper Bame Lawyers and Alina Joseph
Christopher Kapessa Mum.

13-year-old Christopher Kapessa’s body was found in the River Cynon, near Fernhill, on July 1st, 2019, after he and a group of local people were out by the river.

Christopher who couldn’t swim was pronounced dead shortly after his body was recovered by emergency services who were called to the scene.


An initial investigation by South Wales Police in the immediate aftermath of Christopher's death initially concluded there were no suspicious circumstances and attributed Christopher’s death to a ‘tragic accident’.

However serious concerns were raised by the family and their Lawyer Hilary Brown, who complained that only four of the fourteen or so young people who were at the scene of Christopher’s death, had been interviewed by police officers in the initial investigation.


As a result of these concerns, it was subsequently announced that the force's major crime investigation team would be investigating and the case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, that inquiry remains ongoing.

Since that time the family and their lawyer have maintained a dignified silence waiting for the conclusion of this second investigation.

In a letter to the family dated 19th February 2020 some eight months after Christopher’s death, the Crown Prosecution Service stated that after reviewing the evidence and despite having formed the opinion that;

“...there was sufficient evidence to support a charge of an unlawful act of manslaughter” that “concluded that a suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons as he is a youth, should not be charged with an offence of manslaughter”

The CPS further concluded that a prosecution was not in the public interest stating;

“When considering the public interest test, there are a number of factors to take into account because the suspect was 14 years of age at the time of the alleged offense and is now 15 years of age. The suspect has no convictions or cautions and has never come to the attention of the police. The suspect is described as mature and intelligent for his age, in normal education and has a good school record without any issues of bad behavior recorded.’

The CPS went on to say;

“The suspect is described as mature and intelligent for his age, in normal education and has a good school record without any issues of bad behaviour recorded.”

Adding that they had taken into consideration“...Section 44 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and have considered the welfare of the child as stated above and similarly have considered the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. “ referring to the suspect.

In attendance, at the press conference held on Monday 24th February 2020 at the Bute Town Community Centre, Bute Town Cardiff, was  Alina Joseph, the mother of Christopher Kapessa, Hilary Brown of South Wales based law firm Virgo Consultancy Services Ltd and veteran civil rights campaigner, former Deputy Mayor of London and Vice-Chair of BAME Lawyers for Justice, Mr. Lee Jasper and Shavanah Taj General Secretary of Wales TUC

Alina Joseph, Christopher’s Kapessa’s mother stated:

From the start, South Wales Police baffled us by being unable to answer many the most basic of our questions. If this had been 14 black youth and a white victim we have no doubt that the approach of the police and outcome would have been different. We know that family members of the fourteen young people involved demanded the police come and interview their children, whose account was radically different from the four principal suspects. 

We thank them for their compassion and commitment to justice. Their actions stand in stark contrast to the actions of those who lied.

The decision made by the CPS leaves us feeling confused and perplexed as to how some can callously lie about my sons death, inflicting more pain and anxiety on us for the last eight months, and it is the suspects human rights that prevail, despite their lies whilst prosecution over my sons death is deemed as not being in the public interest.”

Just like any other individual whose life has precious value, Christopher too deserved that value and justice for what happened to him. We have been failed by the system.”

The family is seeking a review of the CPS decision that prosecution is not in the public interest to pursue Justice for Christopher Kapessa.”

The effects and circumstances of Christopher’s death has left us all deeply wounded, a wound that may never heal. Now we simply live our lives from one day to the next.”

Hilary Brown Kapessa family’s lawyer stated;

“The decision of the CPS is disappointing in light of the fact that they confirmed that the evidential threshold was met for bringing a charge of Manslaughter against a young man whose actions were responsible for the death of Christopher Kapessa.

Christopher’s family and their legal team are now vindicated for insisting that South Wales Police undertake a new and thorough investigation to establish the facts of how Christopher died and the truth is now out. Christopher died not as a result of a ‘tragic accident’ as South Wales Police initially concluded, but as a consequence and direct result of being ‘pushed’ into the river.

Lee Jasper BAME Lawyers said,

“ In this case, we see the unmistakable echoes of same mistakes committed by the Police and the CPS as revealed in the McPherson Inquiry into the failed murder investigation into the death of Stephen Lawrence. British justice is a racial lottery with the quality of justice to often being determined by the colour of your skin and not the principles of justice. British Black communities some 27 years after Stephens murder continue to believe that British justice is all too often, racist justice. Our message to South Wales Police and the CPS is one that echoed around the world; Black lives matter.”

Shavanah Taj General Secretary of Wales TUC stated;

“ As a Welsh trade unionist and parent to black children I cannot stand by whilst the CPS and South Wales police refuse to act and rightfully serve justice to Christopher Kapessa's family, who lost their young teenage son in a tragic incident in South Wales last year.
Twenty years on since the death of Stephen Lawrence we continue to witness real failings of the very systems that are designed to protect and serve justice indiscriminately. Black lives matter isn't simply a movement or campaign with no face. It's people's lives, their families that are left to pick up the pieces.

At a time when many continue to push division and hatred, we ask all people to stand with us and call on CPS and South Wales Police to do the right thing. ”

Race Alliance Wales stated;

“We are writing as a group of concerned individuals and professionals in relation to the tragic drowning of 13-year-old Christopher Kapessa in a river incident in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf in July 2019. We have been informed by Christopher’s mother of the recent CPS decision not to prosecute despite there being enough evidence of manslaughter, on the basis of it not being ‘in the public interest’.

Race Alliance Wales is deeply concerned that the CPS decision does not offer justice for Christopher or his family, and sends out a troubling message that black lives do not matter. We are fully supportive of Christopher’s mother’s request for a review of this decision.”

Cardiff Stand Up To Racism stated;

“Stand up to Racism supports the call by Race Alliance Wales and The Monitoring Group to launch a new legal challenge, and will continue to demand justice for this family who is grieving the loss of their son.”

Women Connect first and Black Association of Women Stepping Out stated;

“ We as BAME women organisations in Wales are very concerned that a crime that led to the death of a young Black child has been dealt with no regard for the rights and welfare of his family. It is unthinkable that even though the legal threshold was met to bring a charge of manslaughter, a decision has been taken to not prosecute on the grounds that the rights of the perpetrator are more important than that of the victim. As BAME mothers, we fully support the request of Christopher’s mother to seek justice for her child to prevent further injustices like this happening in the future.”

"Rolf Harris was convicted of indecent assault against girls 13 - 19 yrs old]... why isn't he being sent back to Australia?

"Rolf Harris is a case in point [he was convicted of indecent assault against girls 13 - 19 yrs old]... why isn't he being sent back to Australia? Because he's White, and the people on that plane are Black. That's it, pure and simple" 

Lee Jasper, BAME Lawyers 4 Justice #JamaicanDeportations #Jamaica50 

My Windrush interview... Black British and Betrayed #Jamaica50 #NoCharterFlight #WeWantHumanRights

                                          #Jamaica50#NoCharterFlight #WeWantHumanRights

In my sleep I heard them weeping and wailing; the sad lament for the #Jamaica50

I dreamt dreams of the door of no return last night, I saw the holding pens of our ancestors awaiting deportation and envisioned the walk on the plank toward the gentle bobbing ships of our enslavement. 

I heard the weeping and wailing of their tortured souls. And as I awoke this morning, it struck me that those destined for deportation at dawn tomorrow morning this Terrible Tuesday will be filled with a similar sense of mighty dread and deep foreboding. 

The #Jamaica50 will be terrified as they wake today. They and their families will be inconsolable. Many will not have slept. Some will, like our 17^th century enslaved ancestors held in the British slave fort Elmina Castle, Ghana, will have wept through the night. 

They too are looking at the door of no return. 

At around 9pm this evening, the guards will individually shackle the detainees, each one from ankle to waist where they will then be taken to an awaiting bus, all in that familiar chain gang line, restrained, shuffling like their ancestors, dancing the dance of no return.

There will be those who resist and they will be beaten and taken by force. There will be those guards, like the overseers of old, eager for the conflict, flying high on the prospect of sadomasochistic violence. 

They killed Joy Gardner

We remember our brother Jimmy Mubenga and our sister Joy Gardner. 

They killed Jimm Mubenga

We recall the brutal horror of their deaths

And at a lonely Royal Air force runway, somewhere near London, ground staff will be laughing and joking, happily preparing the plane, just as those old pirates prepared their slave ships. 

Tonight, children will be weeping inconsolably for their parents, deeply traumatised by forced separation, whilst guards content in their work and happy with their lot will be donning riot gear and checking their batons and pepper sprays. 

And this morning Titan Airways will be busy counting their cash, having been paid handsomely to transport their tragic cargo of human misery. 

Late tonight Virgin Pilots will be discussing their routes over dinner whilst watching the BBC news, they’ll kiss their wives and children sweet goodnights and prepare to fly. 

And as you sleep tonight and dawn silently breaks this Terrible Tuesday, our people will be forced onto that plane with grimacing, menacing threat and for those who resist, unconscionable violence and unspeakable force  

And as I sit here weeping this Mournful Monday morning, and write this most terrible lament through my bitter tears, awake but still in a dream state, haunted by the visions of our tragic past and the dark portents of the future, I ask myself and the nation in Gods name what are we doing? 

Stop the plane. 

6pm tonight at 10 Downing Street; be there.  

Lee Jasper.