“Death News” Brixton during the riots, 1981. The Brixton Riots of April 10-12, 1981, described as th

“Death News” Brixton during the riots, 1981. The Brixton Riots of April 10-12, 1981, described as the first serious riots of the 20th century in England, were the first large scale racial confrontations between British youth and the British police.Unemployment and poverty was high in the area; during the five days in early April leading up to the riots there were 943 stop and searches in Brixton infuriating the local population and creating tensions between white police officers and (disproportionately black) youths. A racially motivated and fatal arson attack earlier in the year was not investigated properly by the police, who were rightly accused of a cover-up. A peaceful protest on the 2nd of March, the Black People’s Day of Action, was harassed by the police and reported in a racist manner by much of the national media. Some of the organisers including Darcus Howe were later arrested (though acquitted). Community resistance in Brixton was finally set off after a young black man, Michael Bailey, was stabbed in a fight on Friday 10 April. He ran for help, but was bundled into a police car held without medical attention until he was rescued and eventually taken to hospital. Many at the time believed he had died (he came close). This led to 3 days of rioting, inflamed by the behaviour of the police:Protests began immediately against the police.The following day Carlton, a 28-year old painter, was arrested after waving at a friend across the road. Officers threw him into the back of a van as another crowd gathered. Two police officers stopped and searched a mini cab, arresting the black driver. Police tried to force the crowd back but people resisted. The streets erupted in anger. Over 1,000 police attacked the crowd and were met with a barrage of bricks and Molotov cocktails. Shops were looted and burned. Locals took control of a bus—which they drove through police lines.Police officers, including the vicious Special Patrol Group riot squad, beat hundreds of young black and white people who dared to step outside their homes. They raided a number of homes, trashing them, and beating and arresting occupants.Police accused one young white man of stealing a jumper. Officers kicked him in the testicles and told him he was lucky not to be black. They also attacked a photographer for taking a photo of police as they chased a black man “for no apparent reason”.Police were seen to use weapons including a wooden club, a pick-axe handle and a flexible rubber cosh.Local people set fire to cars and buildings to hold back police.Both the racist and violent behaviour of the police and the impact of the Tory (Thatcher) government cuts led to this riot, and set off protests nationwide. Lambeth council had slashed £2.5 million from its budget due to cuts, including £1.7 million from housing. This left 17,000 people looking for homes.The Scarman Report made following the riots concluded that police abuse, racism and inequality were major factors. The recommendations of the report were mostly ignored.——————————————————————It’s now 2020 and we’ve been inflicted with 10 years of Tory government, which has now sunk to depths even Margaret Thatcher would have thought twice about. It’s increasingly the same worldwide. It’s time to remind governments (everywhere) to be afraid of the people. -- source link

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