All posts by Janet Powe

news

BLMUK, Palestine and media anti-Semitism slurs

Black Lives Matter Movement (BLMM) was formed in London in 2016 and is not affiliated to BLMUK. 

BLMM does however support the struggle against racism in all its forms, be it against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or anti-Arab racism. 

Criticising the state of Israel is not anti-Semitic and we support BLMUK’s call for solidarity with the Palestinians. 

Labour Party racism against black women MPs not addressed

Furthermore, it is shocking that the Labour Party has still not disciplined staff members for their racism towards black women MPs.

The lack of concern in the media concerning this blatant racism by Labour staffers is equally disturbing. 

Amnesty International on Israeli training of US police

As Amnesty International has pointed out, Israeli police forces have played a key role in training militarised US police forces. Whether this involves training in the restraint methods used to kill George Floyd is not known but we note that this specific allegation has been denied by the Israeli state.

Here’s an excerpt from the Amnesty report published in 2016:

Baltimore law enforcement officials, along with hundreds of others from Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington state as well as the DC Capitol police have all traveled to Israel for training. Thousands of others have received training from Israeli officials here in the U.S.

Nevertheless, as Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has documented, Palestinians are routinely killed by Israeli police and occupation forces using live ammunition, ‘non-lethal’ weapons and restraint methods. 

An injury to one is an injury to all

This anti-BLMUK witch hunt weakens the fight against all forms of racism.

Of course the focus of the black lives matter movement is on fighting anti-Black racism but we see the connections to other forms of racism.

Attacking BLMUK for standing up for Palestinians is an attempt to weaken the anti-racist movement, and this would appear to be the aim of much of the media and the right in this country.

For those that may have missed – here is the BLMUK tweet in support of the Palestinians:

events

Black Education Matters – Zoom, 2pm Saturday 27 June

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE UK AND THE US LINK UP… BLACK EXCELLENCE! ????? Learn what needs to change in British & US schools and help make it happen. Freedom, liberation and justice starts with education.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB35DAKpUnQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

JOIN US @ldnblm & @educatorsforjustice ON SATURDAY (2PM BST/ 9AM EST) ON ZOOM AS WELL AS OUR SPEAKERS:

Tyrek (Founder & President of Educators For Justice Inc. – US)

Davina (Co-Founder & Vice President of Educators For Justice Inc. UK)

Dashawn ‘Redeemed’ Robinson (Educator/Poet – US) 

Sayce Holmes-Lewis (Mentivity CEO – UK) 

Scottie Lewis (Student Athlete/ Activist – US, 20) 

Christina (Student UK, 16)

Shantti (Student UK, 11)

Janine Palm (Activist/Community Worker)

Dr. Shana Eutsay (Public Speaker/Community Worker – US)

The link will be on our linktree on the day! 

Can’t wait to see you there‼️✊?✊? #blackeducationmatters

View all 5 comments

veecubb @annieghc

kanikagram @xcherise_fordex

action, events

Justice for Shukri Abdi – protest Hyde Park London Saturday 27th June 1pm

Below is the text from the petition started nearly a year ago demanding a full investigation into the drowning of Shurki, which many suspect was in fact an act or murder. The campaign is supported by John Boyega and the daughter of Malcolm X, Ilyasah Shabazz, and US rapper Ice Cube.

We call for a criminal investigation to be opened into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shukri Abdi and for a criminal prosecution to take place

We want a fair trial in the case where we get fair justice for the murder of Shukri Abdi – we do not want it to be brushed under the carpet like nothing happened. And we want to see appropriate action taken against those who were involved in the murder of Shukri Abdi.

We want to see Real Justice – based upon a proper and full criminal investigation which should be opened ASAP – and not brushed away like it was 11 months ago.

12-year-old Shurki drowned in the River Irwell in Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police said it was treating what happened as a “tragic incident” and did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances.

Shukri’s family, who live in Bury, said she could not swim and playing by the river was “out of character”.

Her uncle, Mustaf Omar, said: “She was a sweet, innocent child. Her mum is absolutely destroyed.”

“Everything about it is out of character for her.

“She couldn’t swim so she wouldn’t even go near the edge.”

Shukri, from Somalia, was the eldest of five children and was new to the country, Mr Omar said.

She attended Broad Oak Sports College.

Head teacher Paul Greenhalgh said: “Shukri was a lovely young girl, always smiling, always wanting to please people and work hard.”

Sign the petition

events, news

Open national BLM activists meeting – Monday 15th June 6pm – register now

Please see if you can attend the national open meeting for BLM activists being hosted by Stand Up To Racism today at 6pm

Stand Up To Racism is hosting a meeting to discuss the issues confronting the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and the demands coming out of it.

To join this discussion please register in advance.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-lives-matter-we-demand-change-standuptoracism-activists-meeting-tickets-109174770678?ref=estw

The inspiring Black Lives Matter anti-racist movement that has taken to the streets in the US, Britain and across the world, ignited by the police killing of George Floyd in the US, has exposed the racism at the heart of the system.

This movement has also shone a light on Britain’s imperialist and colonial past following the removal of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol by protesters and the decision by the Museum of London to remove the Robert Milligan statue in West India Quay in east London. There is now a debate about removing other statues such as Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College, University of Oxford.

Meanwhile, the Covid19 crisis continues to disproportionately blight the lives of black communities with figures showing that 34 per cent of deaths were those from BAME communities. Black Caribbean communities are four times as likely to die and BAME communities overall twice as likely to die than their white counterparts. The rapid economic contraction that follows a decade of austerity is also disproportionately impacting on BAME communities.

Hundreds of thousands of new activists have organised the most incredible movement. We want to start a discussion on what demands we raise, change we want to see and how to organise. We want to continue to organise and to make sure that anti-racist organisation is built in every town and city, every workplace and every community.

Some of the demands already raised include:

1. POLICING: Suspend and charge police officers involved in deaths in police custody; end stop and search; racist attacks and murders must be investigated and charges brought.
2. COVID-19: A public inquiry like the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, into the disproportionate deaths in BAME communities.
3. NHS: resources and support for BAME workers to ensure health and safety; an examination of the disproportionate GMC referrals for BAME doctors; BAME workers to be able to report incidents anonymously.
4. EDUCATION: decolonise and depoliticise – the curriculum to must include Britain’s imperialist, colonialist history and enslavement of Africans; decision making on the curriculum needs to lie with teachers not politicians; action on racist bullying in schools.
5. IMMIGRATION: Full citizenship rights for all, end detentions and deportations. Justice for Windrush, refugees welcome.
6. HOUSING: Justice for Grenfell, social housing.
7. ECONOMIC: Investment not cuts. Reparations for slavery for Caribbean families, slavers got reparations, it’s time the descendants of slaves got reparations too.

Tell us your views. Stand Up To Racism is hosting an open #BlackLivesMatter activists meeting on Monday 15 June at 6pm.

Please join us to talk about how can all play a part in taking the movement forward. To join this discussion please register in advance.

events

BLM v far right – what a contrast! We stand for social justice and humanity not violence and racist thuggery

Huge local protests have taken place all over the country over the weekend. The contrast between the peaceful BLM gatherings and the violent thugs of the far right could not be more striking.

To protest the racists and fascist an entirely peaceful and widely reported event was held at Hyde Park and Marble Arch. Thanks to Sasha and sisters from Oxford BLM for taking the lead and our allies at Stand Up To Racism.

Although we disagreed with cancelling the BLM marches on Saturday, we understood why those decisions by various groups were made for reasons of safety and attempting to control the narrative.

Unfortunately however, this meant the racist gangs were able to wander around central London intimidating and attacking black people… that was until reinforcements arrived courtesy of a call by a number of rappers for people to get down to Trafalgar Square.

Also the contrast between the over-policing of BLM London protests and that of the far right on Saturday was shocking. They were allowed to leave Parliament Square unmolested and to roam the streets hunting for people to attack, black and white as countless videos on social media have shown.

And of course the humanity of the BLM movement, which is a campaign for social justice and equality for all, was shown through the noble actions of Patrick Hutchinson:

art and culture

A Song For Equality

I would like to share something my daughter did a couple days ago with you. I feel it really helps people to understand the journey and lived experiences of black people from a holistic perspective.

It depicts, quite clearly, why we are so angry and it does this in the simplest of ways. I am very proud of her as she is only 12 years old and I think it would be helpful for the BLM movement. I hope you will agree. The song is entitled “a song for equality”. Keep up the fantastic work!


Best Wishes Dr Andre Clarke, Policing Scholar