18.04.1996

Stop police brutality

On February 2l, the muslim festival of Eid, Amer Rafiq was arrested by the Tactical Aid Group. On arrival at the Platt Lane police station in Manchester he was covered in blood. His right eye was so badly smashed that surgeons had to remove it. He is still on a waiting list to receive treatment. A mass demonstration five days later heard one youth express the mood:

“It is an insult to the whole community that the racist police thugs who carried out this brutal attack are still in uniform and roaming the streets.”

Confrontational policing of Eid celebrations has escalated over the years. The politicians scapegoat and criminalise black people through immigration and asylum laws. The police armed with these laws lay siege to black communities and create confrontational situations to justify their demands for further powers and deadlier weapons.

The Amer Rafiq Defence Campaign has been established with the active involvement of Amer’s family. The campaign hopes to begin its own community enquiry into the police attack on Amer.

Linda Addison