BLACK LIVES MATTER

THE RISE OF BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE UK

This study examines the emergence of Black Lives Matter and its implications in the United Kingdom.  Black Lives Matter is a term and, more specifically, a hashtag used to draw attention to the racism, injustice, and inequality experienced by black people.  Although its usage has expanded in the United States after high-profile police shootings, it has also been employed in the United Kingdom and abroad. Supporters refer to the reality that black people in the United States are far more likely to be shot by police.  They assert that black people face several additional types of discrimination in the United States and many other nations.  Thus, they seek action to rectify inequitable treatment and oppression that dates back to the age of slavery.  However, the issue is whether the same genuine bias exists in the United Kingdom, particularly amongst the police.

THE MACPHERSON REPORT

In order to critically evaluate arguments against police prejudice, we have to understand the changes that have followed the Macpherson report.  The transposition of the concept of racism into public institutions gives rise to problems and problems of generality, acceptance, universality and exhaustiveness.  Besides, ‘institutionalism’ and ‘racism’ do not easily go together, and both concepts cannot be easily amalgamated as they lack “universality” regarding their definition in literature.  However, the definitions in Lord Scarman's and Sir William MacPherson's findings from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry provide a starting point for the purpose of this study.

Sir William Macpherson described institutional racism as “the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin”, which “can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes, and behaviour, which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping, which disadvantages minority ethnic people”.  Macpherson found inspiration in Stokely Carmichael’s definition given about forty years before.  Charles Hamilton and Stokely Carmichael were two black activists who first coined “institutional racism” as the result of the structure of the society which leads to “layers of inequality for minority ethnic people in housing, income, employment, education and health”.

Stephen Lawrence was a black teenager murdered in a racist attack in the United Kingdom.  Due to the persistent campaign begun by the teenager’s parents, the then Home Secretary, Jack Straw, opened an inquiry to check the investigation conducted by the police.  Meanwhile, Sir William Macpherson led the inquiry by focusing on the actions of the Metropolitan Police.  The main purpose of the inquiry was to verify the treatment of ethnic minorities by the police.

Ten years after Lord Scarman's investigation, the Metropolitan Police was found to be institutionally racist.  This resulted in seventy reform proposals.  Due to Macpherson's findings, anomalies, prejudice, and unethical handling of cases, such as Stephen Lawrence's, were exposed within the Metropolitan Police, and seventy measures to eliminate racism were implemented.  Consequently, institutional racism was categorically stated to be intolerable.  The report proposed the adoption of “accountability, openness and restoration of confidence regarding the Metropolitan Police”.  Sound familiar?

Additionally, the government responded swiftly to Macpherson's findings.  The House of Commons also appointed the Department of Home Affairs to investigate the reforms within the police force.  The war against racial prejudice and discrimination was declared a success.  Besides, the Home Office mentioned that sixty-eight of Sir Macpherson's seventy suggestions had been followed in part or totally.  This may also be criticised in light of how the Mark Dugan shooting was handled and the public outrage which followed.

As a result, the senior officer's efforts to raise awareness of race as an issue were highly lauded.  Subsequently, Trevor Philips, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission's head, emphasised the critical importance of Sir Macpherson's findings on police leadership.  Thus, the idea of 'institutional racism' was considered essential in raising awareness of the problem among police forces across the United Kingdom. 

Furthermore, resources were devoted to combating racism inside public institutions.  Besides, Sir Macpherson's recommendation to embed Family Liaison Officers in organisations charged with promoting the fight against racism was judged essential.  The inclusion of family liaison officers aims to foster better relationships between victims' families and the investigation team.  However, although the inclusion of Family Liaison was seen as a step forward in terms of improving interactions between victims' relatives and the investigative team, the impression of the police remained sceptical.  The Home Affairs Committee in "The Macpherson Report–Ten Years On" reported “officers are more there to collect information and evidence rather than communicate to the family how the investigation is happening”.

According to Mrs. Lawrence, this differential treatment was motivated by the police's presumption that black victims were almost certainly implicated in criminal activity.  Between 2007 and 2008, 28% of those identified as ethnic minorities believed they were not handled properly by the police or another criminal justice agency.  Besides, a review of stop and search regulations shows continued reservations about their applicability to ethnic minorities.  Indeed, black people are six times more likely to be subjected to stop and search under s.1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Interestingly, the police forces themselves acknowledged the sluggish pace of advancement.  Twenty-three of the forty-three forces in England and Wales failed to meet specific criteria, and Sir Macpherson described the overall ratio in his recommendations as the essential attainment of “recruitment, progression, and retention of ethnic minority staff”. Additionally, a disparity in the advancement of minorities was discovered.  For example, at the time of the committee's meeting, Kent had just one black chief constable.

Mr. Alfred John, who served as head of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, remarked that workplace sanctions remain “extremely disproportionate and extremely harsh towards visible minorities”.  According to reports, 8.5% of black officers or officers from minority communities were terminated or had to resign more often than their white colleagues, who experienced this just 1.7% of the time.  Mr. Trevor Philips emphasised this issue as well, stating that “there are some parts of the police service.....particularly some of what people call the 'elite squads' which are essentially still largely white and male”.

When it comes to ethnic minorities, there has always been a level of suspicion in the police.  Moreover, the recent handling of the Mark Duggan shooting served as a litmus test for whether or not the reforms were effective in accomplishing their goals.  Ultimately, this resulted in widespread rioting throughout the country.  More has always needed to be done in order to disassociate the police from the label of institutional racism.

Spike Lee Do the right tihng

Spike Lee's 1989 film, Do the Right Thing, is a cinematic masterpiece that explores the complexities of race relations in America. Set in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, the film chronicles the events that unfold over the course of a hot summer day. Lee artfully portrays the tensions that exist between the neighborhood's Black residents and the police, as well as between the Black and Italian American communities. Through powerful performances and stunning cinematography, Lee forces audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about systemic racism and prejudice. Do the Right Thing remains a timeless and thought-provoking work of art that challenges viewers to question their own biases and complicity in injustice. The film was made in 1989 and portrays the same systemic failing and problems in society we are still experiencing today.

Radio Raheem, a fictional character was killed by police officers who were unable to control him. The police put Radio Raheem in a chokehold in an attempt to restrain him prior to his arrest. The use of force by the police officers in this case was deemed negligent, reflecting the systemic issue of police brutality. Unfortunately, over 30 years later, the same pattern has reemerged in cases such as the murder of George Floyd. The similarities between these two cases are synonyms, demonstrating the importance of challenging systemic issues and holding law enforcement accountable for their actions. Spike Lee highlighted the proplem 33 years ago.

GEORGE FLOYD

After a convenience store clerk contacted 911 and reported that Mr. Floyd had purchased cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 note on May 25, Minneapolis police officers apprehended George Floyd, a 46-year-old black male, and took him into custody.  Seventeen minutes after the first squad vehicle arrived on the scene, Mr. Floyd was found unconscious and trapped under three police officers, with no signs of life.

During the trial, the court recreated—in detail—the minutes leading up to Mr. Floyd's murder by merging recordings from onlookers and security cameras, reading government records, and speaking with specialists.  We saw officers engaging in a sequence of activities that violated the regulations of the Minneapolis Police Department and ultimately proved deadly, rendering Mr. Floyd unable to breathe despite his and witnesses' pleas for mercy.

The following day, the Police Department fired all four officers implicated in Mr. Floyd's murder.  On May 29, the Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman, announced charges against Derek Chauvin, the officer seen most clearly in witness recordings pinning Mr. Floyd to the ground.  Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Mr. Floyd.  According to a study of timestamped footage, Mr. Chauvin, who is white, held his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes and fifteen seconds.  Mr. Chauvin did not withdraw his knee even after Mr. Floyd lost consciousness and for a full minute and 20 seconds after paramedics arrived at the scene.

BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE UNITED STATES

Black Lives Matter is a decentralised political and social movement that aims to bring attention to the racism, prejudice, and injustice experienced by black people.  When members of the movement gather, it is largely to oppose police brutality and racially motivated violence against black people.  Typically, the movement and its affiliated groups argue for various legislative reforms seen as necessary for black freedom.  While some groups, such as the Black Lives Matter Global Network, refer to themselves simply as "Black Lives Matter", the entire movement is a decentralised network of individuals and organisations without a formal hierarchy.  However, despite the movement's reputation as a violent one, the vast majority of its public protests were nonviolent.

The campaign started in July 2013, with the introduction of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media in response to George Zimmerman's acquittal in the February 2012 shooting murder of African-American young Trayvon Martin.  After the 2014 killings of two African Americans, Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a city near St. Louis, and Eric Garner in New York City, the campaign gained global attention.  Since the Ferguson demonstrations, members of the movement have protested against the murders of countless more African Americans at the hands of police or while detained by police.  Black Lives Matter activists got interested in the 2016 United States presidential election in the summer of 2015.  Between 2014 and 2016, the hashtag's creators, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, grew their initiative into a nationwide network of over 30 local chapters.

Following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020, the movement regained national prominence.  It earned even more worldwide exposure during the global George Floyd demonstrations the following year.  In the United States, an estimated 15 million to 26 million individuals took part in the 2020 Black Lives Matter rallies, making it one of the country's biggest movements in recent history.  There were many different points of view and a diverse range of demands, but they all revolved around criminal justice reform.

THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER TRIAL

The US State attorneys laid out a tremendous case against the Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, who faced three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, second-degree manslaughter, and third-degree murder of George Floyd.  Emotions were high in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  This is a summary of the closing arguments raised by Derek Chauvin’s defence in the George Floyd murder:

• The defendant starts with the presumption of innocence.

• The evidence presented by the prosecution must eliminate all reasonable doubt of guilt.

• Carbon monoxide was present and could cause oxygen affixation.

• The defendant’s actions constituted an authorised use of force for the purpose of accomplishing a legitimate arrest or escape from custody.

• It is alleged this was a reasonable use of force.

• The facts known to the defendant officer at the time of arrest were pertinent.

• At the time of the incident, Mr. Floyd was using counterfeit notes at a local business.

• At the time of the incident, Mr. Floyd was under the influence.

• The situation was dynamic and fluid and escalated quickly, which sounded like a struggle that warranted force.

• Police at the scene believed there to be active aggression and resistance.

• The defendant police officer was permitted to use the restraint techniques under his training.

• The defendant, Derek Chauvin, was aided by two “rookie officers” at the scene.

• The other two officers’ use of force was insufficient because Mr. Floyd struggled.

• The futility of their efforts became apparent.  Three officers were unable to get Mr. Floyd into the police car.

• Mr. Floyd was able to overcome three police officers while handcuffed.

• It was reasonable for Mr. Floyd to be placed on the ground.

• There was a struggle for 16 minutes and 59 seconds before Mr. Floyd was placed on the ground.

• Additional force was used to overcome the suspect’s further use of resistance.

• Twenty-nine seconds of additional resistance once Mr. Floyd was on the floor required an escalated use of force.

• The officer requested EMS (paramedics).

• Even doctors have difficulty assessing patients' breathing – in response to Mr. Floyd’s saying, “I can’t breathe”.

• It takes a lot of oxygen to talk, so the police assessed the situation accordingly.

• The force used was non-deadly and permitted under the policies of the police department.

• There was no chokehold – that required both arteries of the neck to be held.

• Provided explanation of witness testimony that their perception was limited to the last moments of the incident;

• The defendant's officer’s body language suggests he was comparing his actions in accordance with the circumstances of the crowd and his training;

• At 8.25, Mr. Floyd took his last breath.  The crowd started to react and threaten the police; this changed the defendant’s perception of this hostile situation.

• This distraction did harm to the patient.

• It was an unwelcome environment, and the use of force was justifiable in the circumstances.

• All witness testimony was varied at what point deadly force was used.

• A knee on the neck is not an unauthorised technique; it depends on the circumstances of the continued use of force, according to one police training expert.

The verdict was left in the hands of the jury, and it did not replace the life of Mr. Floyd.  America needs the Justice in Policing Act 2020, the police reform and accountability law, to be a success, so no other black lives are lost.  This law prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement from engaging in racial, religious and discriminatory profiling and mandates training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement.

BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE UK

In the summer of 2016, the United Kingdom saw the emergence of a movement known as Black Lives Matter.  There were thousands in attendance for rallies against police racism in Manchester on July 11, and a group called Black Lives Matter UK was formed in response to the June 26 Brexit vote at a meeting addressed by Black Lives Matter activist Patrisse Cullors from the United States.  In London, England, protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement shut down London City Airport on August 4, 2016.  On the airport runway, a group of activists formed a chain around themselves.  In connection with the event, nine people were taken into custody.  Protests in other English cities, including Birmingham and Nottingham, were also held in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Protests were organised in the United Kingdom to mark the fifth anniversary of the shooting death of Mark Duggan, which sparked the riots.

Furthermore, many towns and localities continued to hold demonstrations on June 7.  Black Lives Matter protesters demolished the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol's city centre, rolling it down the street and pushing it into Bristol Harbour.  Edward Colston was a late 17th to early 18th-century philanthropist, politician, and slave trader who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.  Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her displeasure over the incident, saying, "This hooliganism is utterly indefensible".

For the second time in as many days, protesters damaged the monument of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, with graffiti, after the defacement of the statue only a few days before.  His name was splattered with black spray paint and the phrase "was a racist" just beneath it.  A protester also tried to set fire to the Union Jack flag flying above the Cenotaph, which serves as a monument to the nation's war dead.  Later in the evening, clashes between demonstrators and police erupted into violence.  A total of 49 police officers were hurt as a result of protestors hurling bottles and fireworks in their direction.  Police officers made a total of 135 arrests throughout the course of the weekend.  Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, reacted to the events, stating:

"Those who attack public property or the police – who injure the police officers who are trying to keep us all safe – those people will face the full force of the law; not just because of the hurt and damage they are causing, but because of the damage they are doing to the cause they claim to represent."

the Metropolitan Police

According to the Macpherson report, institutional racism is: "the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin.  Recently, Cressida Dick, the chief of the Metropolitan Police in London, announced her resignation, citing a spate of crises that have damaged public faith in the force and resulted in a rift between her and the city's mayor. Mayor Sadiq Khan removed Cressida Dick from her position, claiming she was not doing enough to reform the Metropolitan Police, which is the largest police force in the United Kingdom, and address growing allegations of misogyny and racism within her ranks.

If there are any lessons to be learned from Steven Lawrence’s murder 30 years ago and more recently Mark Duggan Shooting, it is that the improvements enacted as a result did not succeed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, published a report last week condemning sexism, bullying, bigotry, discrimination, and sexual harassment among a dozen officers, most of whom are situated at central London's Charing Cross police station. Wayne Couzens, a policeman, was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a woman, Sarah Everard, who was walking home alone at night in London during the lockdown. The case shocked the nation. However, is this the type of uncontrolled police force we want? The distrust caused even amongst the white community is not comparable to the lack of confidence black communities have in the police. We are back in the same place where people are asking for more to happen before they trust the police. Any reforms that take place must address the police's racial attitude. What we need in place are stronger equality laws to protect everyday people from the police.

Sir Mark Rowley reforms

Sir Mark Rowley's appointment as the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner has been to secure a change for London's policing. Rowley, who is a former Assistant Commissioner and has served in various roles in the police force for over three decades, has made it his mission to reform and modernise the service. Among the changes he is bringing are an emphasis on community policing, using technology to improve crime prevention and detection, and greater collaboration with other agencies. Rowley is also committed to improving diversity within the police force and reducing the use of stop and search, which has been a contentious issue in recent years.

Only time will reveal whether Sir Mark Rowley's reforms have truly learned from past mistakes and will successfully create a police force that represents the values of our society today rather than being plagued by the prejudices of the past. While Sir Mark Rowley's experience and roadmap for change undoubtedly offer hope for a brighter future, their ultimate success rests on the implementation and effectiveness of these reforms. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and hold those in power accountable to ensure enduring change and progress towards a police force that is truly "ours." Only then can we be assured that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated and that our society can move forward in a just and equitable way.

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