After the harrowing accounts in the previous show from the families of Christopher Alder and Sean Rigg about their deaths in custody we hear from more families tonight. We do this because we want to avoid reducing “saying their name” to a vain and empty gesture and get to know their stories. However, these stories represent a mere fraction of the cases in a country where “Black people twice as likely to die in police custody in UK.” (1) In fact, in the synopsis for the previous show we list almost two hundred names and as far as we could gather, the circumstances of their death and the judicial outcome. (2)
Indeed, the current focus on “Black Lives Matter” may finally shine a deserving light on many of these cases. During our first show in this current series on June 1st, Sis Marcia Rigg put out the call for our celebrities to help fund the resources and institutions necessary for a more self-determining community. (3) One celebrity that has responded to the call is premier UK Grime artist Stormzy with reports that he and his team #Merky announcing that they will donate £10 million to black grassroots organisations in the UK, spread over ten years, with details of how the pledge will be operated expected in the near future. (4)
The United Nations, through its UN’s human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, has also spoken out in reflection of the George Floyd case and called for “countries to confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism and to make amends for centuries of violence and discrimination” through reparations.” (5) Bachelet didn’t appear to make any reference to whether the United Nations itself would be looking to make amends for effectively being a handmaiden to colonialism, typified in its complicity in the murder of Congolese premier Patrice Lumumba in 1961, dubbed “the most important assassination of the 20th century.” (6)
More immediately, communities seek judicial restitution. The USA the officer responsible for killing George Floyd, as well as his accomplices, have been charged with murder and aiding and abetting murder. (7) Since then, Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has been charged with a dozen criminal charges, including felony murder for fatally shooting Rayshard Brooks in the back on June 12th. (8) Neither of these cases have concluded yet but they are heading to the courts there is at least a chance of a conviction. Conversely, the more than one thousand deaths in custody across the board in the UK since 1990 has resulted in zero convictions. However, it should be said that this doesn’t mean there has been over a thousand acquittals because most the cases never even make to court due to the Crown Prosecution Service’s “impossibly high” bar for evidence against the police. (9) Such is the state’s grip on proceedings that inquests are now dismissed as “farces” with juries even being instructed by coroners to not even criticise the police. (10)
So, amongst all the “culture war” debates about statues, tv programmes, songs at rugby matches, etc., one concrete result from the ongoing protests would be judicial vindication for the families.
In addition to Stormzy’s effort the community at large can also support with the crowdfunding efforts of the United Friends and Families Campaign (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/united-families-friends-campaign) ; and the National Memorial Family Fund (https://www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donations).
(1) Newsquest Digital Content Team (09/06/20) Black people twice as likely to die in police custody in UK – study reveals. https://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/national/uk_today/18504204.black-people-twice-likely-die-police-custody-uk—study-reveals/?fbclid=IwAR162jtFLeXvLMEBZalGjfz_2f6qAsYESGNBhhbbhXIFv0Ax51fCK2ICZJc
(2) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (15/06/20) Have we done Enough to Support Death in Police Custody Families? https://www.alkebulan.org/2020/06/14/aswag-284-bdc-support/(2) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (15/06/20) Have we done Enough to Support Death in Police Custody Families? https://www.alkebulan.org/2020/06/14/aswag-284-bdc-support/
(3) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (01/06/20) ‘How do we get Justice For George Floyd? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/how-do-we-get-justice-for-george-floyd-010620/
(4) Robin Murray (11/06/20) Stormzy To Donate £10 Million To Black Organisations In The UKIt’s a ten year commitment. https://www.clashmusic.com/news/stormzy-to-donate-%C2%A310-million-to-black-organisations-in-the-uk
(5) Agence France-Presse (17/06/20) OUN human rights chief calls for reparations to make amends for slavery. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/un-human-rights-chief-calls-for-reparations-to-make-amends-for-slavery?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1JjUiMoaNC11pWhzCd0QTEox3yqSG8P1a38AkQn5EcUXxNwk3B3oomVvw#Echobox=1592407895
(6) Jessica Lynne Pearson (31/05/17) Defending Empire at the United Nations: The Politics of International Colonial Oversight in the Era of Decolonisation. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03086534.2017.1332133..; Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja (17/01/11) Patrice Lumumba: the most important assassination of the 20th century. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jan/17/patrice-lumumba-50th-anniversary-assassination
(7) Royce Dunmore (03/06/20) George Floyd’s Killer Cop Has Murder Charge Upgraded As Other Officers Face More Charges. https://newsone.com/3950452/minneapolis-cop-derek-chauvin-charged-with-murder-over-george-floyd-death/
(8) Zack Linly (18/06/20) Atlanta Officers Call in Sick After Former Cop Who Shot Rayshard Brooks Was Charged With Felony Murder. https://www.theroot.com/atlanta-officers-call-in-sick-after-former-cop-who-shot-1844079756
(9) Glen Black (08/12/17) Nobody’s been convicted for the 1,000 deaths in custody. And it just happened again. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2017/12/08/nobodys-convicted-1600-deaths-custody-just-happened/
(10) May Bulman (20/06/18) Rashan Charles: Family brand inquest a ‘farce’ after jury finds death was accidental. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rashan-charles-inquest-farce-jury-family-death-cause-accidental-a8408706.html; Jon King (05/06/19) Edson Da Costa inquest: Jury told not to criticise police over young father’s death. https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/crime-court/jury-sent-out-in-edson-da-costa-inquest-1-6089439
We ask the question:
Have we done Enough to Support Death in Police Custody Families? Part 2
1) How can we raise awareness of the UK deaths in custody cases?
2) Should more celebrities follow Stormzy’s exanple?
3) Will a Police officer EVER be convicted of killing an Afrikan in custody in the UK?
4) Why are such convictions possible in the USA but seemingly not in the UK?
Our Special Guests:
Mama Ajibola Lewis: the mother of Olaseni Lewis, the 23-year-old IT graduate who died after prolonged police restraint in Mosiah (Aug) 2010. Mama Ajibola has been central to seven year campaign to get to the truth about her son’s death.