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The other 29-year-old father of four shot by cops

It seems only yesterday since a 29-year-old black father-of-four was shot dead by police in controversial circumstances, sparking civil uprest on the street. The man in question isn't Mark Duggan, but Derek Bennett, killed in Angell Town in Brixton.

The year was 2004 and I was working in the area at the time, for The Voice newspaper. The day he was shot, a picture of Bennett's gun-shaped cigarette lighter loomed large from the front page of the London Evening Standard. It looked real. He pointed it at police marksmen. No wonder cops pulled the trigger, was the clear message. Wouldn't you?

The people knew differently. Something was amiss. It didn't add up. I thought so too. On the Friday of that week, tensions erupted into violence. Stones and bottles were thrown at police and a standoff developed between protestors and riot police. There were some attempts at looting.

At the inquest, it emerged that Bennett was actually moving away from the marksmen at the time he was shot. In fact, all the bullets entered his back. The firearms officer who pulled the trigger testified that he did not recall Bennett raising his replica weapon at him, at any point. While the officer claimed he still feared for his life, to my mind the shooting was totally unjustified.

The street protests took place on a rainy November night. Riot police contained the 200 or so protestors, and the story died away. I'd often thought, what if it had happened on a hot summer night?

Seven years later, another black 29-year-old father-of-four is gunned down by police. Press stories, undoubtedly fed straight from Scotland Yard, stated as fact that Duggan had shot at police, who was only saved because the bullet hit the coppers' radio. Today we learn that Duggan did not, in fact, fire at police. There are now more questions than answers about exactly what happened.

The people of Tottenham were right to disbelieve the police line and media stories. That distrust is the product of decades of deception and misinformation relating to deaths in custody. I've reported on many cases where initial press reports have little in common with the truth as it later emerges. Here are a few examples:

There's Mikey Powell (first report: aggressive crack addict attacks police / truth: smallish man with no drugs in his blood has mental episode, police detain him by accelerating panda car into him). There's Roger Sylvester (first report: super-human strength crack addict detained by police / truth: average-size man with no drugs in his blood his pinned down by eight officers until he is asphyxiated).

There are many more cases just like this. I cannot remember a death in custody case where there weren't serious questions about the actions of the police. Yet it is 40 years since the last officer was convicted of any offence relating to the death of a black man.

In Derek Bennett's case, the coroner instructed the jury they could only reach one verdict despite the evidence - lawful killing. Can the community refer to any case that gives them hope that the family of Mike Duggan will recieve justice? I can't think of any. When the Tottenham police failed to call up a senior officer to speak to his family and other demonstrators, I can fully understand their suspicions of yet another attempted cover-up. Yet another case where the truth seeps out months later, but still does not bring justice.

I firmly believe the Independent Police Complaints Commission only made their statement today because the first uprisings in Tottenham has spread to widespread disturbances and riots across London and the UK. It is damage limitation, pure and simple. We are still awaiting justice in the cases of Sean Rigg, where the IPCC have been quite obstructive; Smiley Culture and Demetre Fraser.

There is no excuse for the looting and arson we have witnessed - particularly last night. And I do not believe that discussing issues of denial of justice in death in custody cases is excusing the disorder. Neither do I believe that talking about grinding generational poverty, discrimination in education, and severely restricted employment opportunities is excusing the destruction and violence.

The protests that faded away in 2004 meant that Derek Bennett's death failed to herald any positive changes. If any good is to emerge from this week of shocking disorder, let us have an honest debate about denial of justice and what needs to happen to break the mould in the case of Mark Duggan. Let us also not shy away from issues of poverty and economics as it impacts on areas like Tottenham.

How to make a silk purse from Swaine's "ere"

Lib Dem Voice has reported the unreserved apology offered by Reading councillor Warren Swaine after his membership was reinstated following a five-month suspension over a racially-offensive tweet, under his twitter name @waswasere, in January.

Swaine resigned from the council cabinet after claiming that Labour's Chuka Umunna would claim "is it because I is black" as "defense [sic] for being a muppet" while the MP appeared on BBC Questiontime.

The apology, although seven months late, is welcome. His previous failing to show contrition or even just understanding about why he had caused such offence, was in danger of becoming a bigger issue than the original tweet. Lewisham councillor Duwayne Brooks threatened to resign over the issue.

Lib Dem members, and the blog Political Scrapbook, pointed the finger at local Reading party big-wigs who were backing a seemingly unrepetant Swaine.

The apology followed an official complaint to Cowley Street by a local party member, and a number of media articles including The Voice newspaper. Campaign group Operation Black Vote also got involved. It is understood that the BBC and a national newspaper were making enquiries.

And the affiliated group Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats called for an independent investigation, a plea that was answered by news that the English Party division would look into the conduct of the local Reading party and council group. With such pressure - from inside and outside the party - it was inevitable that an apology would be forthcoming.

While it provides closure on Swaine, there are a number of issues that the Lib Dems would well take heed of. Better procedures for dealing with disciplinary matters may be needed. Certainly,in the context of how far the party lags behind on BAME representation, being seen to take such matters seriously is a small but crucial part of the strategy for gaining lost ground on racial diversity.

If lessons are learnt this episode could be a silk purse made from Swaine's (waswas) ere!

Race to the finishing line

The contest to become Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor moved into the home straight last night with a focus on race equality issues.

The four hopefuls gathered at the frayed but historic surroundings of the Africa Centre in Covent Garden for a hustings organised by the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats.

Reality TV star and ex-MP Lembit Opik, 2008 mayoral candidate Brian Paddick, City Hall assembly member Mike Tuffery and recycling expert Brian Haley addressed an audience that included many black and Asian party members.

After a fortnight of hustings, all four would-be candidates are very much in their stride now, putting in able performances that play up their individual unique selling points.

In the aftermath of the News International phone hacking scandal, there were questions about community confidence in the police, as well as concerns about the efffectiveness of Operation Trident, the detective team dedicated to tackling “black on black” violent crime.

The hopefuls were asked how they had personally demonstrated zero tolerance against racism. Paddick, who rose to prominence as the openly-gay and popular police commander in Lambeth, reminded the audience about a demonstration demanding his reinstatement after being suspended from his post, and said he had “proved by my actions that I can be trusted by the black and ethnic minority community.”

He added that he backed black and Asian police officers who were encountering problems in the force “100 percent of the time.”

Opik responded that he had challenged racism within the Lib Dems. “One of the things that disturbs me about the party is that despite the words on our membership card, I see prejudice within our own party. I try to challenge it, it's utterly unacceptable.”

Opik added: “Multiculturalism underpins what makes this country great. I don't ask black people to vote for me. I want people to vote for me, and so if I behave in a way you want me to behave then maybe I'm the right candidate.”

Haley, a senior councillor who defected from Labour last year and the only person of colour in the contest, said his background would make him the most interesting candidate in the media's eyes.” He also laid into Operation Trident, saying that it smacked of a “containment field” for inner city gun crime rather than an attempt to eliminate the problem. He would like to see the police unit widened to tackle all gun crime, regardless of which race was involved.

Tuffery, who has two decades of experience in London politics, said that he frequently encounters prejudiced views when telephone canvassing, and always challenges such attitudes rather than take the “easy option” and agree for the sake of a vote.

Tuffery said there was a “real danger” of the contest not addressing issues that young people cared about, and he said that the London mayor should run policies past a panel of youth before implementing them. Paddick said that during the last campaign he was the only mayoral contender to visit school assemblies.

All four candidates highlighted areas of policy that set them apart from other rivals, while maintaining a good rapport with each other.

One questioner asked whether the quartet had any skeletons in their closet. Not surprisingly there were none, and Paddick quipped: “My skeletons and I have been out of the closet for some time!”

Haley was the most improved contender from the previous [LINK] hustings I attended in Wimbledon. He spoke with passion on a range of subjects and even though some of his ideas – such as more bobbies on the beat – needed to be beefed up with more of a sense about how objectives will be achieved, he displayed strength on a range of topics such as housing policy.

In truth, there was little to pick between all four runners this time around. Here is my personal scorecard for the EMLD hustings.

	Charisma	Equality	Policies	Total
Haley	6	7	7	20
Opik	7	6.5	7	19.5
Paddick	6	7	7.5	20.5
Tuffery	5.5	7	7	19.5

Sorry is the hardest word (updated 03/08)

"What an absolute joke", writes a resident of Reading town in the thread underneath a story in the Reading Post online about a Liberal Democrat councillor who was reinstated without apologising for a race gaffe.

Councillor Warren Swaine tweeted that Labour MP Chuka Umunna would claim "is it because I is black" as "defense [sic] for being a muppet." His five-month suspension ended this week, despite no public apology worth its' salt.

I understand that the group Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats are now looking into the matter.

The website Political Scrapbook commented: "The party's leader in Reading, Daisy Benson, has repeatedly stonewalled Scrapbook's enquiries as to whether Swaine will demonstrate contrition for his remarks before he is welcomed back."

Swaine has been ordered to attend diversity training, but Scrapbook noted: "What is the point of 'diversity training' for someone who refuses to say they are sorry?"

Similar sentiments have been expressed on Lib Dem Voice (LDV), not just by myself, but also Lewisham councillor Duwayne Brooks and four other readers. One of them, LeeT, said: "If he has not made a grovelling apology it is astonishing that we are permitting him to retain his membership. We all do and say stupid things, but stupidity should have consequences." Two ethnic minority party members wrote on LDV that they were considering their leaving the party in protest.

Swaine's use of the Ali G catchphrase is offensive not just because Chuka Umunna is a well-spoken black man far removed from the Sacha Baron Cohen character, but also because as Swaine watched BBC's Questiontime he was distracted by skin colour as much what the Streatham MP was actually saying. It goes without saying that there should be no connection whatsoever between being black and being a "muppet."

Cllr Swaine's blog, WasWasEre, reveals a seemingly long-running dispute with the Reading Racial Equality Council, who have distanced themselves from him. He is understood to run another blog called Muckspreading, which features a post titled "race riot" a satirical piece which suggests that a local "street games" tournament will turn into an orgy of crime. Another post in May involved a photoshopped image of the mayor Gul Khan.

A Google search reveals an impressive back catalogue of insults and defaced photographs targetting people of all races, including many of his own party colleagues. The question of why such an individual is allowed readmittance back into his party without demonstraing his contrition is beyond me. I suspect we haven't heard the last of this gentleman...

UPDATE!!!

Cllr Swaine has this afternoon given the following apology "I would like to take this opportunity apologise for making derogatory comments during the BBC Question Time programme on the 27th January especially those relating to Chuka Umunna MP. I made a lot of comments that were insulting that night and I regret that.

In respect of one particular tweet, no offense was meant but I absolutely acknowledge that it was recklessly worded and liable to an interpretation that was never intended. For that I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Mr Umunna and to anyone else for any offence caused.

I take the values of the Liberal Democrats very seriously and as someone of mixed heritage myself, I can fully understand why it has upset many people. For that I offer an unreserved apology"

It's only taken six months, but glad he's apologised. There is still a lesson here for the party about how to deal with such matters.

Challenging the media that fed Norway terrorist with hate

After a full week of stomach-churning radio phone-in shows featuring a string of callers saying "I don't agree with what the guy in Norway did, but..." it was refreshing to be part of a radio discussion from a different perspective.

Last night I appeared on the Dotun Adebayo show on BBC London, alongside NUS black students officer Kanja Sesay and playwright Funke Oyebanjo to pick over issues. Earlier in the week the once-feared Jeremy Paxman had failed to take apart the English Defence League's Stephen Lennon (aka 'Tommy Robinson)' on Newsnight, despite an arsenal of facts linking this far right group to the worst fascists Europe has to offer.

As Nick Cohen pointed out in yesteday's Observer, the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik's hate-filled "manifesto" was peppered with references to articles from the mainstream British press to justify his claim that Islam presents an urgent threat to western civilisation. While the right-wing blogosphere foams against Muslims and immigration, it is the likes of the Daily Mail's Melanie Phillips who provide extremists like Breivik with all the written ammunition they need. Cohen wrote:

The British convince themselves that they loathe extremism.... yet although extremist parties fail as badly in Britain as they have always done, Britain has become the European capital of extremist ideas. Breivik did not only listen to British far rightists screaming out their hatreds in the madhouses of the blogosphere, but peppered his manifesto with citations of articles in the Daily Telegraph and other respectable conservative newspapers. Britain's mainstream media, not the fringe on the web, formed the basis of his claim that readers could find all the evidence they need of the multicultural plot to turn white, Christian Europe into a Muslim-dominated "Eurabia."

Quite simply, English Nationalism is being fed by daily helpings of fear-mongering served up by mainstream columnists and commentators, with the occasional feast laid on by politicians - such as David Cameron's attack on multiculturalism in February. As I pointed out on last nights' show, while there is no denying that Islamic extremism is a problem, the weight of coverage given to it vastly exagerates the issue and gives the green light to the populist red-top tabloids to really go to town on Muslims, and even justify their backing of right wing extremists.

There is virtually no escape from the current state of discourse, not just because left-leaning columnists like Polly Toynbee are also aboard the same bandwagon but also because, with the exception of the Independent's Yasmin Alibhai Brown, there is not a single regular black or Asian national columnist to put another side. Not to side with Islamic terrorism, merely to question whether we are viewing the landscape in perspective and to recognise what the consequences are of our present ways. We are feeding a sense of isolation amongst the general Muslim population, most of whom abore terrorism but feel angry at their faith being stereotyped, frustrated that their opposition to extremism goes unrecognised, and despondent that legitimate grievances about international policies are washed away by the tide of anti-Islamic sentiment.

Just as the current political atmosphere acts as a recruiting sergeant for the likes of Anders Behring Breivik, it also allows al-Qaeda inspired preachers of distorted and politicised Islam to hoover-up the next generation of terrorists. One of the ironies of the current state of mainstream debate is that the vast majority of terrorist attacks in Europe over the past few years have been commited by non-Muslims.

The way I see it, the rapidly-growing mountain of articles about Islam is in direct inverse proportion to the virtual absence of debate about the shocking reality of racial prejudice in British society or the wasted generation of young people killing each other. While every move by Abu Hamza, aka 'Captain Hook', gets reported, scandals such as the disproportionate numbers of black men being made redundant or incarcerated in the mental health system remains off the radar. There is only room for one bogeyman in the British press it seems, and it isn't the ruling elites.

It is true that the black community can also be anti-new immigrants or even anti-Islamic, despite the Islamic traditions of Africa, but that it largely a consequence of being influenced by decades of mainstream debate. What we can sometimes forget, however, is that multiculturalism in Britain is often literally skin deep... probe a little further and you will uncover a potentially frightening willingness of the general population to side with a right-wing agenda that would spell trouble for all peoples of colour no matter how many generations they have lived here.

A survey launched in February by David Miliband found that half of all UK people would support a far right party if they gave up violence. 48% would definately support of consider supporting a party that "wants to defend the English, create an English parliament, control immigration and challenge Islamic extremism." Each part, taken seperately, can be debated but taken together like this agenda screams English Defence League, or British National Party. All they need are respectable leaders. Nick Griffin failed on Questiontime, but EDL's leader is dangerously poised.

Both far right organisations are plugged into the same Europe-wide network of hate and paranoia-filled chatrooms such as Stormfront that allowed Breivik to forge such close links with British fascists. I visited Stormfront yesterday and read dozens of people who sounded just like Breivik. Hatred like this knows no boundaries. This is why we need to take Norway so seriously; not just because potential support for the far right is just under the surface but also because another Brixton bomber like David Copeland could well exist. We have a choice to wait for the next atrocity or begin the road to a different, more informed, discourse about Islam and multiculturalism.

Instead of firefighting whenever the race attacks explode on the streets, our politicians should consider targeting resources proactively at potential hotspots of racial and religious hatred. There is enough intelligence about where tomorrow's Barking and Dagenham's are. If the Big Society means anything, it should be about supporting grassroots projects to bring communities together before trouble occurs. That should involve an element of political - with a small 'p' - education. Nothing will divert disenfrancised poor white communities from scapegoating "the other" than a greater realisation about who is really responsible for their predicament. The Charities Commission must scrap their ban on charities campaigning for economic and political awareness. "Community empowerment" is more than computer and literacy courses - it is knowledge of the power structure and the routemap to change it.

The intellectual narrative underpinning the street struggle between Unite Against Fascism and hardcore racists rarely gets an airing, but the reasons why black and white people unite to drive away the unpatriotic fascists is a crucial missing part of the national discourse.

It is no surprise that Breivik's ideas mirrored so closely British mainstream conservative debate. Melanie Phillips and her ilk deploy words as weapons to churn out column after column soupping up the Islamic threat. But this can be countered by a coming together of the anti-racist movement with the progressive intelligensia, the youth and voluntary sector. We, the people, have power in unity to shift the debate away from stereotyping Muslims towards real policy priorities for equality and economic justice.

As the Right go on the defensive over the continuum linking far right terrorism with mainstream debate, now is the window of opportunity to change the very nature of the debate. Before we get distracted by the forthcoming outrage over how light Breivik's prison sentence might be should he be found 'insane', now more than ever we must challenge the accepted wisdoms that keep racial and religious prejudice and class discrimination in firmly entrenched for the economic and political benefit of the Wizard of Oz men behind the curtain.

By Lester Holloway

I'm a celebrity... no, I am!

The race to be the Liberal Democrat mayor of London candidate crackled into life with the first public hustings meeting last night, as Brian Paddick and Lembit Opik both claimed to be household names.

It was a case of 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me To City Hall' as former top cop Paddick competing with fellow reality TV star Opik to paint themselves as famous enough to shift some of the media spotlight away from the Ken and Boris show.

The other two candidates in the contest, London assembly member Mike Tuffery and recycling expert Brian Haley, were resigned to talking about policies and the need for the 2012 election campaign to involve 'the party' instead of being personality-driven.

The 35-strong audience of party members who gathered at a Wimbledon church last night (20^th July) failed to witness any fireworks; that may come at bigger hustings meetings planned for the next few weeks. Last night was more of a limbering-up session than a full-blooded competitive game.

The contest itself was much delayed, as figures in the party's Cowley Street HQ racked their brains for an anyone-but-Lembit candidate. Meanwhile the big beasts of London, Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone, have been in place for many months.

Whoever gets to wear the yellow rosette in early September will have just eight short months before polling - not much time to be heard above the rutting egos of BoJo and Red Ken.

That's a tall order. Lothario and former MP Opik said party members needed to pick someone who had the experience and personality to hold their own in the ring.

Paddick, the party's candidate last time around, had a similar message too. He had got the measure, not just of Ken and Boris, but of Jeremy Paxman too. Nothing could phase him now. Significantly, he was the only man on the night to claim he could actually win next May, on second preference votes, especially if one of the front two were to have a campaign disaster.

Both Paddick and Opik have been victims of phone hacking, which has guaranteed both recent column inches amid the national scandal. As if to prove the point, an ITN van was parked outside church venue to interview the pair. Sadly, the broadcaster was not interested in the Lib Dem contest – at least not for the moment.

Paddick and Opik also had a bit to say about policies too. But first to speak was veteran activist Tuffery, an ex-accountant who is looking a bit sharper these days in a dark charcoal suit. Tuffery threw his hat in the ring after being egged-on by Mark Pack of the blog Lib Dem Voice and has been tipped to win the nomination. Quietly-spoken, solid and effective, he certainly has supporters among those who fear Opik will make the party a laughing stock.

In keeping with his subdued style, Tuffery said house-building was a key priority. There was enough spare land, he said, for 350,000 new homes; enough to almost single-handedly wiping out the housing waiting list. He also wants big firms to pay a living wage rather than minimum wage to reflect the extra cost of living in the capital.

And on a night when the four contestants were reluctant to lay any blows on each other, Tuffery did at least put some clear yellow water between himself and Paddick by promising to criticise the coalition government as well as praise it. Earlier, Paddick has claimed that the key to a successful campaign was to make the public realise how successful the Lib Dems had been in Government.

Haley, who was a senior Labour councillor in Haringey before defecting last year, said his slogan was “it's not about me, it's about the party.” He was at his most animated talking about how Labour had failed the inner cities over many decades, and was also most scathing about Livingstone. “I think Ken is burnt out”, he said. “I don't think he has the policies or the drive to work this thing through.” Haley's top priority was job creation.

Opik adopted a serious tone far removed from his reputation as a part-time comedian and dater of young women. He spoke about a referendum on a 24 hour tube service, and promised that he would “say things even if they are unpopular.” As if that were ever in doubt.

Paddick's key promise was that he would run a better campaign than 2008. He had learnt valuable lessons and was ready to hit the ground running.

Opik noted that he was “100 percent Estonian” and that his failure to be included as an ethnic minority in the past was “racist.” I think the last comment was slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I can't be sure. Opik said immigrants had made a great contribution to Britain, and that “multiculturalism actually works if you take away the prejudice.”

None of the four candidates had very much to say about immigration and diversity beyond the well-worn platitudes that new communities make a valuable contribution to society. One hopes all four will raise their game for the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrat hustings on 2nd August at the Africa Centre, Covent Garden.

It's early days yet, but here's my scores for the opening exchanges:

	Charisma	Policies	Diversity	Total
Brian Haley	4	4	5	13
Lembit Opik	7	7	5	19
Brian Paddick	6	6	4	16
Mike Tuffery	4	7	4	15

by Lester Holloway