Thousands march due to riots and deaths in custody

Thousands of people took part in three different marches in London, focusing on the summer riots in the UK and the deaths of people in police custody.

The annual event, organized by the United Families and Friends Campaign, was held in Trafalgar Square to remember those who died in police custody and was attended by hundreds of people, including the family of Chris Kaba.

Thousands of people also took part in a demonstration between Victoria Station and Whitehall on behalf of Tommy Robinson in support of those imprisoned in connection with the riots in the UK. There was also a counter-protest.

During the event in Trafalgar Square, family members of those killed wrote a handwritten note addressed to the Prime Minister in Downing Street.

Speaking from Number 10, all dressed in black, they said: “Your family are suffering endless trauma and their well-being is being impacted… this is a sensitive issue and we want it to be resolved amicably.

“Everyone has the right to life and family too.”

They added that “every time we hear of another death, we feel pain” and “the families can never be forgotten.”

During the march, some people held signs saying “No justice, no peace” and “No more deaths in custody.”

Members of the Justice for Chris Kaba campaign group were also present at the event, and one of the group’s members spoke to crowds at the event, speaking of “collective grief”, “devastation” and “disappointment”.

The incident occurred after Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martin Blake, 40, was killed found not guilty of murder in the shooting death of Chris Kaba when stopped by police in Streatham, south London, in 2022.

After the murder trial ended, the judge lifted restrictions on reporting the crimes and the case went public Kaba was a member of the London 67 gang and was linked to two previous shootings.

Outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Kaba’s cousin, Sheeda Kaba, said it belonged to the Home Secretary new measures regarding the anonymity of firearms officers they were like “punishment” for her cousin’s case.

“All it told us was that we were increasing protection for officers because no other officer would go this far and be prosecuted,” she said.

“But speaking on behalf of my family, we will not be silenced. We will continue to say Chris’ name.”

The activist had earlier told the crowd that they were gathering not only “for the Kaba family,” but for all “grieving” families who they believed were “grieved at the hands of the state.”

Marcia Rigg, sister of Sean Rigg, who died in police custody in 2008he said: “We are here to remind him (Sir Keir Starmer) that he is the Prime Minister, that everyone has the right to life no matter what.

“If there is a crime, they go to prison and serve their sentence. It is not a death sentence. There is no justice.”

Elsewhere in Westminster, thousands of people took part in a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ demonstration, although Robinson, 41, whose real name is Steven Yaxley-Lennon, was unable to join the crowd because he was on Friday he was arrested by the police.

In a post from Robinson’s X account ahead of the event, his team asked supporters to remember that “we are here not only for him, but most importantly to pay our respects to Peter Lynch and support the families of political prisoners.”

The post referred to Lynch, 61, who died while serving his prison sentence for taking part in the Rotherham riots, as well as other people imprisoned in connection with the riots that took place across the country in July and August.

Demonstrators carried placards saying “Double-decker Keir fueled riots”, “Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the boats”.

The Met said two arrests were made during the demonstration – one on suspicion of breaching applicable terms of the Public Order Act and an alleged breach of the peace, and the other on suspicion of committing a public order offense of a racist nature, the Met said.

There was also a counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism at the other end of Whitehall, which called on supporters to “take to the streets” in a “mass anti-fascist demonstration”.

Speeches were made by speakers including former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labor MP Diane Abbott and trade union general secretaries.

The Met said two arrests were made in the vicinity of the Stand Up to Racism protest – one woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault, which was later withdrawn from custody, and another was arrested after allegedly assaulting an officer, the Met said.

Another arrest was made on suspicion of violating public order of a racist nature after allegedly directing a racist comment at an officer, but the officers did not confirm which protest the person was participating in.

Scotland Yard said there would be a “significant” police presence in central London throughout Saturday, adding that officers from other police forces were on duty to support Met and British Transport Police officers in Westminster.

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