A Defend the Right to Protest Public Forum, introduced by Marcia, Rigg, Alfie Meadows, Ed Greens and Brian Richardson (Campaigning Lawyer). Thursday 2nd August, 7PM, at SOAS, Thornhaugh
The outcome of PC Harwood’s trial has been met with an outpouring of anger. Ian Tomlinson died on 1st April 2009 after being struck by PC Harwood, yet the loved ones of Ian had to wait just over three years to see PC Harwood in court, after an inquest last year found Ian had been unlawfully killed. Harwood’s acquittal is in a context of 1,433 people in England and Wales dying in police custody or following other police contact since 1990. Not one police officer has been convicted for one of these deaths.
Sean Rigg is another of these 1433 deaths, whose inquest is ongoing. Sean Rigg died on 21st August, 2008, yet only in 2012 has an inquest begun, nearly 4 years later, after his family have tirelessly campaigned as part of ‘Sean Rigg Justice & Change’.
Smiley Culture died during a police raid of his home, yet the IPCC ruled there was no evidence to pursue a case against the police nor were the family even allowed to see the final, full report of Smiley’s death.
These cases all highlight the hard fight faced by those trying to hold officers to account for their actions.
Alfie Meadows, for example, who suffered a brain haemorrhage after he was struck on the head with a police baton on a student demonstration in 2010, yet he is the one being criminally prosecuted and is still awaiting a retrial for violent disorder.
We saw in the aftermath of the student protests in 2010, as well as the August riots, the speed at which the government insisted those responsible for damaging property must be held accountable and were dragged through the courts, many given exceptionally disproportionate custodial sentences.
Yet violent police tactics during the demonstrations of 2010 remain unquestioned, police racism is ignored and deaths in police custody or as a result of police contact, including that of Mark Duggan whose death sparked the riots last summer, remain unaccountable.
Ed Greens will be speaking on his experience of being arrested on the recent Critical Mass demonstration. Footage here shows how the woman who tried to offer him water to break his fast was arrested, after the police refused to allow Ed access to his own water and food to break his fast. Ed now plans to take action against the police.
Many have bravely taken on the police in the court rooms in a variety of contexts and circumstances. So what happens when policing is put on trial? Can the police ever be held accountable or do they effectively have a license to kill?
This forum will provide forum for discussion of these issues and how we can organise to strengthen support for those fighting of justice.
All welcome.
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