PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 20 April
Anti-racist campaigners welcome Chauvin guilty verdict and call for action to charge police officers in Britain
Stand Up To Racism campaigners welcome the guilty verdict for all three charges of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Campaigners say the fact that similar charges have never been brought against police officers here in Britain is due to institutional racism and action is needed to eradicate it.
In a statement to the House of Commons earlier today, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities Kemi Badenoch, defended the findings of the controversial Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) chaired by Tony Sewell. Campaigners argue that achieving justice here requires rejecting the CRED report.
Stand up to Racism also stressed that justice today would not be possible without the Black Lives Matter movement and point to the dangers of measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that curb the right to protest. The Bill has been delayed at the Committee stage in the House of Commons.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said:
“We welcome the guilty verdict. Police racism is not unique to the US. The fact that no police officer in Britain has ever been charged, let alone convicted, for deaths of black people in police custody is a product of institutional racism. We need action to eradicate institutional racism. This verdict would not have been possible without the Black Lives Matter movement. It shows the power of protest and the importance of opposing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said:
“This verdict comes hours after the British government defended its internationally criticised CRED report. After examining policing, health, education and employment, the report concluded that it found no evidence of institutional racism. This flies in the face of all evidence. Contrary to Kemi Badenoch’s earlier statement to the House of Commons, this is denying the existence of institutional racism. Achieving such justice in Britain means rejecting this report.”
For more information, interviews and further quotes:
info@standuptoracism.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. Stand Up To Racism is a national broad-based organisation supported by major trade union, faith and community groups. As well as organising the annual march for UN Anti-Racism Day, it organises actions and produces materials on Islamophobia, antisemitism, refugee and migrant rights, in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, gypsy, Roma and traveller communities, and against the rise of the far right. For more information you can visit www.standuptoracism.org.uk, email info@standuptoracism.org.uk, and follow our social media: Facebook ‘Stand Up To Racism’, Twitter @AntiRacismDay, Instagram ‘standuptoracismuk’
2. Stand Up To Racism has called a week of action across Britain to commemorate George Floyd’s death one year on, and in the spirit of the #BlacklivesMatter movement. On 22 May, local actions and protests will be coordinated across England, Scotland and Wales. This will be followed by a 5pm online international rally. On 25 May, anti racists will #TakeTheKnee everywhere across the country. More details: https://fb.me/e/1rbU6mIqJ
3. Stand Up To Racismcampaigning statement on CRED report here: http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/statement-opposing-cred-reports-denial-of-institutional-racism/
4. Stand Up To Racism is holding an online rally on the subject of the CRED report and institutional racism on 26 April, 6pm: Institutional Racism – We Need Action, Not Denial. Details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/150508279315