No justice. No peace. No racist police. This is the chant that could be heard in the centre of St Peter’s Square in Manchester yesterday evening as members of the public, group coordinators, and community organisers called for the abolition of the police force.
The protest comes after footage released last week showed an altercation where a man is kicked in the head and stamped on while lying restrained on the ground by a police officer at Manchester Airport. It has since been confirmed that a police officer has been suspended in relation to the incident.
For many, trust in the police is non-existent, and for them, footage such as the Manchester Airport video only serve to illustrate a difficult and brutal reality of disproportionate treatment of people of colour by the police.
Last year, charity Inquest released a report stating that black people are seven times more likely to die than white people following restraint by police. Another study conducted in 2023 by University College London, Keele, Exeter and Staffordshire universities found that police are more likely to taser black people due to institutional racism.
Days after the video was released, so too was a second video claiming to show the moments leading up to the original video. One speaker at the demonstration told the crowd that this second clip didn’t change anything. They said: “When young asian men are attacked by the police we say they have the right to defend themselves, they have the right to resist.” He went on to say that “Whether on a protest march, or whether coming home from the airport, the people of this country will not stand for racist state violence, at home or abroad.”
Another speaker Zara told supporters: “Revolution is ours to make, liberation is ours to take” before introducing a group of drummers who performed music to open and close the speeches taking place. Speeches were made by representatives from organisations who campaign against racism within the police, against police within schools, and for the protection of racialised youth.
One such organisation is the anti-racist youth work organisation Kids of Colour who organised the protest. Their work advocates for young people of colour through support groups, advocacy and campaigning on their behalf. One of their areas of focus is racism within the police, as well as within the education sector and the legal system.
An excerpt from one of their social media posts before the demonstration said that the violence that took place at Manchester Airport remains a threat to young people as long as the police exist. They listed several areas of overreach by the police including police pursuits, the use of tasers, stop and search, strip searches, police officers in schools, surveillance, and data profiling before concluding that the list is endless and encroaching on every area of young people’s lives.
One protestor told me: “I attended because I do not believe that the police provide protection to the people. There is so much institutional racism in the system, reform and change is needed. The police are a means of enforcing institutional ideals. I attended a protest for Palestine where the police became violent with no apparent reasoning twice. They are aggressive and do not stand for the people.”
Greater Manchester Police released a statement in relation to the incident which says: "A referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for a full independent investigation. We understand the deep concerns that have been widely raised with us, and will continue to meet and discuss these feelings with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives, whilst this independent investigation takes place."
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester asked the public not to rush to judgement and to instead allow the IOPC’s criminal investigation into the officer’s conduct to move forward.
When asked what readers of Mag North could do to help, Roxy, Director of Kids of Colour said: "Listen to the stories of people who do have lived experience, especially for those who haven't been directly affected by this themselves. Organise within your communities, and realise that what happened at Manchester Airport is not an isolated incident. This is happening every day."
All images: @mcrjourno
