Tag: Brixton Riots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featureplayer_embedded&vFQNGoqdQnRk A very timely reminder of the Brixton Riots on April 11th, 1981 - this single from Hiatus with Linton Kwesi-Johnson, a new version of his 'Di Great Insohreckshan', will be released 30 years to the day. Never forget how the police and Margaret Thatcher's policies treated whole communities - literally tore them apart - and that people fought back in many ways...what I love about the LKJ poem and song is it never apologises for what happened - so much anger and so many mealy-mouthed apologies (if at all) from the police over the likes of Blair Peach, Cynthia Jarrett and many more. So why now must we (the royal wee ;-)) always start with apologies or regret when we start the conversation - like with the recent violence on the cuts demo? I totally understand that anger expressed, over banks and bailouts and the rich, or state racism and ignorance, although I also understand (my partner) John's counter argument about not getting people onside by smashing their toys. But it seems too often we start with 'Violence is bad but...', depressingly so, that we must be on the defensive when those who oppress us will happily smash our skulls in if it profit them? It's obvious to me that when the shit hits the fan, they don't care about you or I. Sometimes violence is the only answer - when both sides are not listening - thankfully riots like this and Toxteth, Broadwater and St Pauls are rarer because some do listen, but were a stick in the eye of the police who decided to harass whole communities and kill people without impunity, so eventually they had to back down (for a bit - like the TSG being a bad tribute act to the SPG, for instance). Yes violence should never be the start of the conversation, and I have no major love for the Black Bloc (ooh did you lose your 'k', duck? How radical and 1980's you are to spell it like that! *eyeroll*) and such like because they want to start with that tactic, but I won't condemn all such action out of hand like so many do today. If you're being kettled and attacked like those in Parliament Square last year, then why should you stand there like sheep in front of the charging horses? I won't throw the first or last stone, but will defend those who feel the need to protect their community from attack (apart from those who want to take other's rights away in the process, like fascists). Here's the original from 1981, still startlingly radical and upbeat: https://youtu.be/CFE1kwB2Yvo

Tag: Brixton Riots

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