THE RACISM of the British state has come under increasing scrutiny throughout the public inquiry into Stephen Lawrençe's murder. The remit of the inquiry is becoming focused on whether the police investigation was hampered by police racism or absolute incompetence. In the same week that the BBC's Rough Justice reported on the fitting up of the M25 three for murder, and the inquest into Alton Manning produced a verdict that he was unlawfully killed in prison, the excuses put forward by state officials are looking pretty shabby.
Richard Tilt, head of the prison service claimed that there are proportionally far more black deaths in custody because black people are genetically prone to die of positional asphyxia.
There must also be a gene that makes black people act in a way that makes police more likely to stop them and to prosecute them, that makes courts more likely to find them guilty and to give them custodial sentences.
Tilt attempted to justify his claims by stating that research has shown that more blacks than whites are killed in custody in other countries, not just within Britain. Many of us had naively assumed that this was simply because racism was an integral part of the capitalist system, rather than a specifically British invention!
Whilst all this has focused attenJUstiGe We want. Demanding justice: campaigners outside Kidderminster inquest into death of Alton Manning tion on how black people are dealt with by the state, the Stephen Lawrence inquiry has focused on how state institutions fail to defend those facing racist violence. Stephen Lawrence was killed by racist thugs five years ago.
The police issued statements at the time that their investigations had been met with a wall of silence', despite 26 witnesses giving the police the names of the alleged killers. The Lawrence family where forced to take up a private prosecution after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges, claiming there lack of evidence.
It has become absolutely clear that the police did next to nothing to find any evidence.
As we go to press the inquiry has been adjourned. The Lawrence campaign understandably find it hard to believe the claims of one officer that he attended the scene but did not see the pool of blood around Stephen Lawrence, despite it being directly beneath a street lamp. In fact so much crucial evidence was missed that it is impossible to ascribe this to mere incompetence. A detailed statement was given to the police about the gang of youths accused of his murder, but the police waited a further two weeks before arresting anybody.
The case of Stephen Lawrence is just the tip of the iceberg. Countless victims of racist attacks have contacted the police to be told that they are not facing racism. In other cases the police have arrested the victims and let the perpetrators of racist violence go Racist murders may be relatively rare, but they will continue so long as racism as a whole is not dealt with head on. The Lawrence family have shown enormous courage and determination in the pursuit of justice for Stephen.
What has become abundantly clear throughout their struggle is that the courts, the police and the state will not and cannot deliver such justice. Anti-racists need to build a mass movement independent of the state to challenge the scandal of racist Britain. government's behaviour. The oil interests of multinationals have usually influenced Britain's attitude to Nigeria. At one time this brutal regime was going to be put on the 'white list' of countries considered safe for deportation. Only public outrage at the execution in 1995 of nine minority rights activists, including the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa caused the government to change its outlook. Yet deportations and the threat of deportations continue. Gillian Achu fled Nigeria eight years ago following her refusal of a forced marriage. She and her children have since led a settled and secure life here and would suffer great disruption, distress and probable reprisals should the family be sent back. Jeremy Corbyn MP has stated "In view of Gillian and her children's very human needs, the government must view her situation with compassion. I await the response of Mr O'Brien to my admit Northern Cyprus to the European Union,. despite an Amnesty International inquiry into "disappearances, missing persons, and deliberate and abitary killings".
Both the Ozbay and Sengul families have suffered arrests, beatings and constant harassment because of their Kurdish origins. In spite of this the government is proposing to send them back to face further persecution.
Setting up an anti-deportation group has strengthened the support and morale of the refugee families in Islington. The National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns has been supporting campaigns throughout Britain since 1995, and already 38 of these have been successful.
A lobby of Parliament has been organised by the NCADC to call for the ending of all deportations and detentions and for the right to stay.
Be there if you can.
Join the lobby April 29 Houses of Parliament Lobby 1.30-3.30pm Public Meeting 3.30-5-30pm Organised by National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns