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United Families and Friend March in London (23 Oct 2008)

Peter Marshall | 25.10.2008 21:32 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles

Several hundred people, including many family members and friends of those who have died in suspicious circumstances in police custody, prison and 'secure' mental health facilities, marched at an appropriately funereal pace through the centre of London this afternoon (25 Oct 2008.) Pictures (C) 2008, Peter Marshall, all rights reserved.

Justice for Sean Rigg
Justice for Sean Rigg

The de Menezes family attended the protest
The de Menezes family attended the protest

Why?
Why?

Death Certificate for Patrick Cawley (1982-200)
Death Certificate for Patrick Cawley (1982-200)

Family Campaign
Family Campaign

Police largely kept a low profile
Police largely kept a low profile

Justice for all
Justice for all

A long list - 2553 names
A long list - 2553 names

Police inspect the bouquets
Police inspect the bouquets

Laying the bouquets at Downing St
Laying the bouquets at Downing St

Grief at Downing St
Grief at Downing St

Gates of Downing St
Gates of Downing St

Justice
Justice

Rally calls on Parliament for action
Rally calls on Parliament for action

Women in black at rally in Parliament Square
Women in black at rally in Parliament Square


For many of us at this annual event, there was this year an added sadness and grief in the absence of a dedicated campaigner on this issue, Pauline Campbell, who devoted herself to the cause after her daughter died because of the neglect of the authorities in Styal prison in 2003.
 http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2003/10/oct25-06.htm

Many of us heard Pauline speak at previous annual marches organised by the United Families and Friends of those who have died in custody and had come to know and respect Pauline through her single-minded campaigning.
 http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2008/01/jan.htm#holloway

News of her suicide at her daughter's grave this May came as a shock (but not a surprise) and it was appropriate that she was remembered at the start of the march in Trafalgar Square.
 http://re-photo.co.uk/?p=361

Pauline was one of many whose name was not listed among the over 2500 people who have died in care of police and prison staff, either through violence or neglect, but her and many other deaths are also very much a result of their actions.

Despite the publicity achieved by this campaign, and various investigations by the media, inquest verdicts and other enquiries that have made the damning evidence crystal clear, nothing seems to have changed. Racism, the lack of a proper culture of care and an almost complete lack of accountability mean that healthy people, mainly but not all black, continue to die in police and psychiatric custody and in prisons and there is no justice for them. In the past year there were 182 such deaths recorded, and the banner carried in the march listed over 2500 who have died.

The march made its way in silence down Whitehall to Downing Street where, after the bouquets had been subjected to a police examination, family members were allowed to come forward and fix them to the gates in front of Downing St, where police had agreed they would be allowed to stay until the end of the protest.

Among those taking part were the family of Jean Charles de Menezes, The inquest on his death continues.
 http://inquest.justice4jean.org/

Outside Downing St the marchers were encouraged to give vent to their feelings and make a great noise, before continuing to march, now chanting, to Parliament Square where there was a rally at which a number of people whose family members had been killed made pleas for justice to be done.

More pictures on My London Diary shortly
 http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2008/10/oct.htm#united

Peter Marshall
- e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co.uk
- Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk

Additions

fitting tribute

26.10.2008 00:07

A fitting tribute to Pauline and a concise report. A number of family members of people killed in police custody spoke at Parliament Square after the procession, including the sister of Jason McPherson, who died of a asthma attack whilst being held down by 10 cops in police custody after being prevented from being allowed to have use of his inhaler despite repeated pleas.

Dignified Rage


Correction Re: Jason McPherson

26.10.2008 14:33

I said re: the death of Jason McPherson that he died of an asthma attack.
Just like to retract that now.
This has NOT definately the case as the post-mortem has still not been finalised and so the cause of
Jason's death is still not properly established.

A further correction which needs to be stated is that his death took place in January last year, not this year as previously stated.

Jason was heard asking for his inhaler by his friends whom were arrested with him and because whilst being held down by the police his mobile was turned on and rang through to his mother whilst this happened and his mother heard it all. Jason was also heard saying the words: "get off me, I cant breath".

Dignified Rage


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