#LondonToFerguson: Protests spread across London

Hannah Dee, Chair Defend the Right to Protest, told RT earlier today that this evening's protest was in solidarity with the US demonstrations.

"[Tonight] is to show Michael Brown’s family and people of Ferguson and across the US that we stand with them. That the whole world is not only watching but joining them to demand justice for Michal Brown and for all victims of police violence and to say that Black lives matter. Police racism, deaths in custody, the utter failure of the legal system to deliver justice, the struggle over these issues has no borders, from London to Ferguson we see these familiar patterns – this is an international struggle."

Fears have been voiced on social media that this evening's protest will spark violence and looting similar to the 2011 London riots after the killing of Mark Duggan.

@RTUKnews parallels with Duggan case so clear, no case to answer, dimwits and criminals go on rampage, response not hard enough. Scumbags.

— Bubbles Jackson (@bubblesinnocent) November 26, 2014

@RTUKnews solidarity, bollocks!!! They'll head straight for the nearest electrical store!!!

— Billy Straight (@Milo_Sturgis) November 26, 2014

A press release from the London Black Revolutionaries published earlier today condemned the police behaviour, saying that working with them was no longer an option.

Extract:

"We should not be expected to accept the status quo, or to subdue ourselves in the face of subjugation. When the nature of the threat has made itself so evident we need to strike back and make our demands with clarity and conviction, without compromise.

For dealing with a racist organisation with a deep-seated culture of impunity, community-led accountability of the police is the only way we will begin to put an end to the abuse of police authority, as facilitated by the justice system. Engaging with them or ‘working from within’ to try and merely prevent from the worst of its excesses is not an option.

With the US justice system systematically targeting Black people to reproduce the prison-industrial complex and finance private prisons, it is important to appeal to our governments on a purely moral basis to protect us from their own institutions. We must seek proper democratic control over the police and make clear that Black lives are not cheap, and not for exploitation.

We have to identify the media’s role in perpetuating the racist stereotyping and scapegoating of Black communities throughout the UK and the USA, and in legitimating the brutalisation of Black people. Solidarity means actively countering the demonisation of protestors in Ferguson fighting for justice against the racist police, military and the KKK, and supporting their right to defend themselves by any means necessary.

In the same year that Mark Duggan’s murder was deemed lawful, and where the USA’s ongoing war on Black people has been defined by a string of killings of Black men by police, it is as important as ever to affirm solidarity between our people across borders.

We hope the people of Ferguson can draw strength from our support as we have from their continued struggle against those intent on silencing them, and in asserting beyond doubt that Black lives matter."

MP Diane Abbott showed her support for the demonstration today:

“A recent report has shown that in recent years young black males in the US were 21 times more likely to be shot dead by police than their white counterparts. This is shocking, but inequality in policing is not a new phenomenon. Therefore how can it ever be reasonable to allow police to use deadly force against an unarmed young man? And just this weekend a 12 year old boy has been shot dead by police in the US as he played with a fake gun in a park. And time and time again no one is held accountable. When yet another unarmed young black man is killed and it is ‘lawful’, it can be no surprise that black people are questioning how much value these same laws place on their lives.”

Diane Abbott MP in solidarity w. Mike Brown's family for #london US embassy protest at 5.30pm Wed 26 Nov https://t.co/kAbiawycvc#Ferguson

— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) November 25, 2014

Stand Up to Racism will hold the first of two protests happening this evening in front of the US embassy. The first demo will begin at 5.30, the second at 7.30.

See you at the demo at 5.30pm this evening - followed by another protest at 7pm - Justice for Mike Brown -no justice, no peace! #Ferguson

— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) November 26, 2014

In the run up to the demonstrations, the organisations involved have spoken out.

Zita Holbourne, National Co-Chair BARAC UK, said:

“Until there is a balance of powers there will be no balance of the scales of justice. Oppression, institutional racism, inequality, poverty and injustice occur because of a division of rights where black people are treated like third class citizens. As Martin Luther King said, a riot is the voice of the unheard. When will the powers that contribute to injustice be prepared to hear?”

Protesters have gathered peacefully with placards reading:

"Justice for Mike Brown. Solidarity with Ferguson"

"No justice, no peace"

The words of the protesters mimic those of Aaron Kiely NUS NEC, who said earlier:

“We join the family of Mike Brown in calling for an indictment of the officer who shot their son dead. We currently live in a world where young black people can be shot dead on the street with impunity. This has got to stop. No justice, no peace.”

Crowds are gathering at the US embassy

"No justice, no peace, jail racist police" solidarity with Ferguson and justice for Mike Brown #londontofergusonpic.twitter.com/fD8WbSqRwW

— SWP Britain (@SWP_Britain) November 26, 2014

#LondontoFergusonpic.twitter.com/IhK7KGOuo1

— .... (@BayleeGracex) November 26, 2014

"Travesty of justice"

The leader of the rally addresses the crowd and reads a speech from MP Diane Abbott, who supports the demonstration.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Mike Brown. Not only have they lost a loved one but following the Grand Jury’s decision they no doubt feel the strongest sense of injustice, which can only make their pain worse.

“The anger and disruption that has already followed this decision extends beyond the killing of Mike right to the root of long standing issues with the criminal justice system. Just as in Britain, the Black community in the US has a fraught history with the police. It is one of the reasons I have always been against the arming of police."