Striking evidence has been uncovered about Special Branch’s attempts to infiltrate UK Black Power groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Black Power is in the news this week, with the announcement that the conviction of former Fasimba members Winston Trew and Sterling Christie (two of the ‘Oval Four’) has been referred to the
Issue: Briefing Papers - Europe
Vindication for lifelong ‘Oval Four’ fighter
After a fight lasting forty-seven years, the case of the ‘Oval Four’ has now been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. On a March evening in 1972, four young black men were stopped at Oval tube station by white men and accused of ‘nicking handbags’. The youths, who maintain
Calendar of racism and resistance (18 September – 3 October 2019)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP Asylum and migrant rights 17 September: The inquest opens into the death of Mulubrhane Medhane Kfleyosus, a 19-year-old asylum seeker from Milton Keynes who took his life on 18 February 2019, the fourth from
Is the prime minister’s defence of free speech ‘humbug’?
If we are not vigilant, the government’s attempts to deny the links between speech that inflames and actual acts of physical violence could be extended to deny or excuse incitement to racial hatred. On BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Boris Johnson defended his use of ‘martial metaphors’ in the first parliamentary debate since parliament was reconvened
Leaving the ‘War on Terror’: alternatives to Prevent?
Drawing on a recently published report, Leaving the War on Terror: a progressive alternative to counter-terrorism policy, Arun Kundnani outlines why counter-terrorism policies do not work, and what an alternative could look like. The starting point for this report goes back two years to a speech Jeremy Corbyn gave at Chatham House, in which he
Making Indigenous Peoples’ history more accessible
A timely review of the republication of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States – for young people, which makes the legacy of Indigenous Peoples’ resistance against colonialism and imperialism more accessible The re-publication of this Indigenous Peoples’ history book by Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz as an explicit teaching aid is very
Calendar of racism and resistance (3 – 17 September 2019)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. ASYLUM, MIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP Asylum and migrant rights 2 September: An analysis of Home Office figures reveals that between 2016-18 the Home Office refused at least 3,100 asylum claims from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) nationals from countries
Calendar of racism and resistance (16 August – 2 September 2019)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. ASYLUM AND MIGRATION Asylum and migrant rights 18 August: Médecins sans Frontières spokesperson reacts with disbelief to UNHCR official Vincent Cochelet’s tweets expressing concern for ‘the radicalisation of migratory dreams’, which he explains as refugees’ rejection of jobs
Johnson’s immigration policies: hostile chaos?
If Boris Johnson’s government survives, the chaos of the immigration system it plans to impose will lead to untold misery. During the Tory leadership campaign, Boris Johnson set out his approach to immigration policy: to make it easier for highly skilled migrants to enter, and tougher for those who ‘abuse our hospitality’ – the usual
Calendar of racism and resistance (1 – 18 August 2019)
A fortnightly resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlighting key events in the UK and Europe. ASYLUM AND MIGRATION Asylum and migrant rights 3 August: Italy grants refugee status to Medhanie Tesfamariam Berhe, the Eritrean man who served three years in prison after being mistaken for an international human trafficker. (Guardian, 3 August 2019)