Jean Lambert, London’s Green Party MEP, will speak at a national
demonstration this weekend calling for an end to police violence.
Jean will join the United Campaign Against Police Violence (UCAPV), a
new coalition which includes civil rights groups, trade unions, justice
campaigns and political parties, on their demonstration this Saturday
23 May. [1] But it is a different kind of demo: marchers will advance
from Trafalgar Square, via Downing Street, to kettle New Scotland Yard.
Kettling is the controversial tactic, used by police during the G20
protests, whereby crowds of demonstrators are penned in and detained by
police, sometimes for hours on end.
Jean, a member of the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, said:
“It was horrifying to witness the heavy-handed tactics employed by
police on the streets of London during the G20 summits in April, and
deeply disturbing to learn of the death of Ian Tomlinson, an innocent
man. This Saturday we will remember Ian Tomlinson, Jean Charles de
Menezes, who was killed four years ago, Brian Douglas who died in 1995,
Blair Peach, who was killed 30 years ago, and all those people – more
than 1,000 – who have died in police custody since 1969.
“Of course we recognise that the police face an increasingly difficult
task in keeping our streets safe, but there must be no trade-off with
our civil liberties.
“The police should be helping to rid our streets of violence – not
adding to it. The breadth of support for the UCAPV shows that people
from all backgrounds are no longer prepared to see civil liberties
undermined and threatened by the very force which exists to protect us.
We must ensure that public trust in the police is rebuilt, and that
respect for human rights becomes a fundamental principle of modern
policing.”
Greens have been instrumental in pushing for change and defending civil
liberties. In London, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) on which
Green Assembly Member Jenny Jones sits, is establishing a Civil
Liberties Panel. The decision comes in the wake of the policing of the
G20 demonstrations and the panel will scrutinise the Met’s activities
at that time. [2] Jenny made formal complaints over police tactics
during the G20 protests.
In Europe, Jean has worked consistently to call for justice for the
families of those who have died in police custody. In 2002 she hosted
the screening of Injustice, a film about deaths in UK police custody
which drew legal threats from police forces and the UK Police
Federation. Relatives of victims and Ken Fero, the film-maker, attended
the screening, and the issue was subsequently raised in the European
Parliament’s annual report on human rights. [3] With Caroline Lucas,
her fellow Green MEP, Jean supported the petition of one of the Genoa
protestors who was badly beaten by police during the G8 demonstrations
in 2001.
The UCAPV demonstration takes place this Saturday 23 May. Assemble at
Trafalgar Square at 3pm for march via Downing Street to kettle Scotland
Yard. For more information visit www.againstpoliceviolence.org.uk,
email office@againstpoliceviolence.org.uk or call 07894 49 7705.
ENDS
Notes
[1] United Campaign Against Police Violence
(UCAPV) is a newly-formed coalition of groups, including the London
Green Party, Labour Representation Committee, Socialist Workers Party,
G20 Meltdown, Stop the War Coalition, Government of the Dead, London
Transport Region RMT and the Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign, who
have united around the slogans: Remember Ian Tomlinson – no more deaths
in police custody; Freedom to protest – defend civil liberties.
[2]
The MPA Civil Liberties Panel is not yet in operation; its role and
remit will be discussed at the next meeting of the MPA at City Hall on
28 May. This is a public meeting: visit
http://www.mpa.gov.uk for more information.
[3] See http://news.bbc.co.uk.