Boycott The Police Until They Acknowledge They're Institutionally Racist

Here is the full video. broadcast of the recent Lambeth Police Consultative Group meeting held on Thursday 23rd of January 2014 that took place at the Karibu Community Education  Centre Gresham Road Brixton , Lambeth , London.

The meeting was called in response to recent Mark Duggan Inquest verdict that concluded that Mark was lawfully killed but in a perverse twist of logic, further determined that Mark was not in possession of a gun, despite the evidence of the Police Officer who shot him, who told the court that as Duggan spun to face him, described as a " freeze frame " moment he was staring down the barrel of a gun.

The verdict has widely but not universally been condemned as " perverse " and the implications for British policing are profound. In short a police officer can, according to this verdict, lawfully shoot anyone as long as he has a reasonably held belief that the individual is carrying a gun.

Set against the context of a Metropolitan Police Service that has, since the Commissioners and the Mayor of London' s bizarre conclusion that the MPS are no longer an institutionally racist organisation,  witnessed the rampant return of unchecked institutionalised racism, that has produced increased levels of a range of racial inequalities.

For example huge increases in the use of Stop & Search, increases in race complaints about officers, racism in the charging of black and white first time offenders that taken together demonstrates conclusively that the MPS is directly falsely criminalising London black communities in a profoundly unjust and deeply oppressive manner.

I am of the opinion that we now need to boycott any Police Service that does not accept that reality of institutional racism and agrees to work in partnerships with communities to rid themselves of this disease. Partnership mean genuine accountable representation from communities, not hand picked nodding dog negroes.

This demand must be elevated to a national priority if we are to stem the precipitous political decline of the priority accorded to equality and anti racism. My thoughts are as follows;

• To end all non essential contact with Police Services that do not, publicly and formally except that they are a institutional racist organisation.
• To call a national boycott of all black police recruitment to the police and until such time.
• To publicly challenge anyone individual or organisation that seeks to work with the police whilst they refuse to accept the reality of institutional racism.

My rationale is that until the Police accepting they remain a racist organisation then we are likely to see;more racist policing incidents,

• more suspicious deaths in custody, 
• more disproportionate use of Tasers on black people, 
• more black people being unjustly charged when they should be cautioned, 
• more black officers leaving the force than joining and as a result 
• more likely to see further explosions of violence on our streets sparked by any number of possible catalyst trigger policing incidents.

Better a boycott now than riots later.

So I intend to argue this case urging a national policing boycott to prevent the further criminalisation of our children, secure a drastic reduction in the number of all suspicious deaths in police custody, curtail the oppressive use of Stop and Search and the discriminatory use of all policing powers, and argie for radical changes to the the policing discipline regulations to sack racist officers.

I hope you will work with me to secure decent future for all our children.


Lambeth Police Consultative Group

Rev Jesse Jackson supports call for public inquiry into deaths in custody UK - videos

Link to Press Release:

 http://leejasper.blogspot.com/2011/12/rev-jessie-jackson-calling-for-total.html

Link to video of full Press Conference:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19160308

OBV

OBV

'American civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson was at Operation Black Vote's headquarters on Thursday 15th December to address a press conference where gave his full support to a group of campaigners calling for an independent judicial review into the current handling of Black deaths in police custody.

Reverend Jackson joined a number of agencies including Operation Hope and Recovery, The United Friends and Families Campaign, Inquest, Black Mental Health UK, Operation Black Vote and the Campaign 4 Justice to stand with the families who have been affected by these tragedies.'

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'American civil rights campaigner Reverend Jesse Jackson addressed a press conference in east London on Thursday 15th December 2011, to publicly give his backing to the growing number of calls for an independent judicial inquiry into the current handling of deaths in police custody.

A number of agencies including Operation Hope and Recovery, The United Friends and Families Campaign, Inquest, Black Mental Health UK, Operation Black Vote and the Campaign 4 Justice have come together to stand with the families who have been affected by these tragedies.

The meeting highlighted the widespread distrust that the recent spate of deaths of Mark Duggan, Kingsley Burrell Brown, Demetre Fraser and Jacob Michael, at the hands of the police has caused. It will also focused on the urgent need for the establishment of an independent judicial public inquiry.'

Rev Jessie Jackson calling for total reform on handling of deaths in custody - Press Conference: Thursday 15th December 1.45 – 2.45 pm

Rev Jesse Jackson Snr

Press Notice: Immediate Release                    Contact:  Francine Fernandes/ Lee Jasper

NEWS/POLITICAL DESKS                                Tel: 0208 983 5426/ 07984 181797

Reverend Jesse Jackson urges total reform on handling of deaths in custody

A press conference with the Reverend Jesse Jackson has been organised for Thursday 15^th December from 1.45pm – 2.45pm at 18a Victoria Park Square, London, E2 9PB, to publicly give his backing to the growing number of calls for an independent judicial inquiry into the current handling of deaths in police custody.

A  consortia of agencies including Operation Hope and Recovery, The United Friends and Families Campaign, Inquest, Black Mental Health UK, Operation Black Vote and the Campaign 4 Justice have come together to stand with the families who have been affected by these tragedies. This meeting will highlight the widespread distrust that the recent spate of deaths of Mark Duggan, Kingsley Burrell Brown, Demetre Fraser and Jacob Michael, at the hands of the police has caused. It will also focus on the urgent need for the establishment of an independent judicial public inquiry.

Reverend Jackson will call for an independent public inquiry leading to wholesale reform of the way that these tragic deaths are currently investigated and police officers held to account. He will address the recent global increases in levels of police brutality. In the UK last year a 164% increase in the rate of stop and searches targeting Black people helps explain why fatalities are disproportionately higher among the UK’s African Caribbean communities. Government data shows  that in the past 12 months alone Black men have made up 20% of the deaths in police custody, despite coming from a community that are just 2% of the population. Disturbingly, mental health service users make up 61% of all deaths in custody and more work also needs to be done to prevent further fatalities amongst this vulnerable group.

Lee Jasper Chair of London Race & Criminal Justice Consortium & Executive member of Operation Hope and Recovery stated:

"Suspicious deaths in police custody represents the critical fault line in police and community relationships and this past year has seen a massive increase in the number of Black men who suffered deeply suspicious deaths whilst in police custody. Had someone in Government or the London Mayor’s Office heeded the warning signs about this issue that were apparent throughout the spring and summer, the August riots could have been avoided, preventing needless loss of life and damage to property.

In many cities throughout the UK there exists a poisonous policing sub culture of racial profiling. This drives up racist stop and search rates that contributes to an increase in police community tensions. Furthermore, as a result of the many failures of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the IPCC are perceived as discredited and no longer enjoy the confidence of Black communities. These are critically important issues. As an experienced former Director of Policing for London for eight years it is my informed view that unless a full and open public inquiry takes place, bringing the powerful disinfectant of transparency to an issue clouded in controversy, that anger and frustration could erupt again. The families of those who have died whilst in the care of the police or other institutions deserve a public inquiry; the nation’s best interests would be best served by such an inquiry. Government needs to understand that without justice there can be no peace." 

Speakers include:

Reverend Jesse Jackson, United Friends and Families Campaign, Merlin Emmanuel Campaign 4 Justice, Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign, Mark Duggan Family,  Stafford Scott-Tottenham Defence Campaign, Matilda MacAttram -Director of Black Mental Health UK,  Deborah Coles Co-director, Inquest,  Rev Wayne Malcolm – Operation Hope and Recovery 

Lee Jasper will chair the Press Conference.

Time:              1.45pm – 2.45 pm (Doors open at 1.15pm)

Date:              Thursday 15 December 2011
Venue:           Operation Black Vote, 18a Victoria Park Square,  Bethnal Green, London E2 9PB 

Transport:    Nearest tube Bethnal Green on the Central Line

Annual UFFC march against deaths in custody

Hoping for Change.

Eighteen people have died in this year in police custody so far. Over the past five years (up to the end of 2010) there have been a total of 117 deaths in police custody, according to INQUEST. It is clear from these statistics that custody deaths remains an important issue that the public should take note of in the UK today.

As recently as 22 August 2011 Jacob Michael, a 25-year-old mixed-race man from Widnes, Cheshire, died after an unprovoked altercation with police in which he was assaulted with pepper spray and beaten with batons. Michael’s parents believe their son died on the way to the police station. Requests for medical attention were ignored. No officers from the Cheshire police force have been suspended over the incident.

This death, similar to others, sheds light on the recurring problem of a lax oversight of police conduct and a lack of inquiry into potentially wrongful deaths.

On Saturday 29 October 2011 the annual march against custody deaths will be held at 12:30 pm, beginning with a silent procession from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall followed by a protest outside Downing Street. The march and protest is organised by the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) in memory of those who have died in police custody.

Head Steward of the event, Lee Jasper, said he hopes the rally will,

“Initiate a national campaign to push deaths in custody onto the national agenda so the Prime Minister can understand the national importance of shining a bright light on an area that continues to cause tragedy and anger and poison community relations.”

He added,

“The phenomenon of deaths in custody shows no respect to race, class, or religion, and everyone can be affected. As we saw in the case of Mark Duggan there can be profound effects [to custody deaths] not just in areas like Tottenham but the country as a whole."

Jasper stated the issue of custody deaths can be mediated by,

“an independent public inquiry, a reform of the coroner’s inquest system, radical reform of legal aid, changes to the police disciplinary procedure and finally, fundamental reform at the Independent Police Complaints Commission to restore public confidence.”

Jasper is asking volunteers who wish to participate in the march and protest to arrive at 11:30 am on the south side of Trafalgar Square on 29 October.

Oksana Trofimenko and Danny Mucinskas

(First published at OBV: http://www.obv.org.uk/)

Public meeting to discuss Black deaths in Police custody - 26th October, London

The number of Black deaths at the hands of the police is a growing concern for the public especially in the wake of the shooting of Mark Duggan by police marksmen which triggered wide-scale riots across the country.

Along with Duggan, the deaths of reggae artist Smiley Culture, Kingsley Burrell-Brown and Demetre Fraser is at the forefront of the community's consciousness as is the issue of deaths in custody.

A number of concerned individuals and activists have therefore organised a public meeting on the issue of Black deaths in custody which will be held at the London School of Economics Students Union (LSESU) on Wednesday 26 October.

Organised by Black Mental Health UK in association with the LSE SU, the meeting, which is free to attend, but requires delegates to register online, marks the first steps to establish what action the community can take to ensure that this issue becomes a matter of priority for the present Government.

Government figures show that a disproportionate number of deaths following contact with the police are of Black people. Almost half the deaths of people in police custody are mental health service users and deaths of those detained under the Mental Health Act account for 62% of all deaths in state custody.

Matilda MacAttram, Director of Black Mental Health UK said,

"All the data shows that Black men and people who use mental health services are the most likely to lose their lives while in custody. The recent spate of tragedies we have seen makes it clear that this problem will not go away by itself. This public meeting aims to put this issue back on the political agenda in order to ensure that other vulnerable people do not continue to lose their lives in circumstances, which could easily be avoided."

Sherelle Davids, Anti-racism Officer at LSE Student Union said,

"We are holding this meeting to address the continual death of Black citizens in police custody. It is an issue that is easy to shy away from, but after this summer’s events we can no longer ignore this injustice. People should attend this event to hear first hand from the families who have been affected, so that we can build unity around raising the profile of this issue."

Marcia Rigg from the Sean Rigg Justice and Change campaign said,

"I am speaking at this event because sadly my brother was part of that ratio of using mental health services and also being a Black man. I live and breathe it and feel that the issue of Black deaths in custody needs to be highlighted. There is overwhelming evidence of the higher numbers of Black deaths and yet the families are stifled from gaining justice. We have been struggling for decades, it not just black people in the 70’s who have had to deal with this. We are now seeing our children being killed; it is too much for the community to bear and it be left unsaid. We have to unite together to put a stop to this by telling our story and highlighting this issue."

Speakers on the night include Matilda MacAttram, Co-Director of Inquest Helen Shaw, Racial equality campaigner Lee Jasper and Steve Pope, Editor of the Voice newspaper amongst others.

This event is free to attend, but requires registration. Email: events@blackmentalhealth.org.uk with the words Public Meeting in the subject line.

This public meeting on Black deaths in custody is from 6.30 – 9.00pm on Wednesday 26th October 2011 at The Quad, East Building, London School of Economics Students Union, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE.

(First published at OBV www.obv.org.uk/)



L-R: Kingsley Burrell, Demetre Fraser and Smiley Culture.