ACTION PLAN: MARCH 4 TRUTH AND JUSTICE- JULY 2ND IN BIRMINGHAM

ONLY ONE WEEK TODAY UNTIL THE MARCH!
We need to let everybody across the UK know what is happening and why!

Deaths in custody can affect anyone’s family at any time.  We demand justice for Kingsley Burrell from Birmingham, a healthy young father, who died in custody after calling the police for assistance, when he felt threatened whilst out with his small son.  Justice for Kingsley is justice for all; we are working in unity with other campaigns and families affected by deaths in custody, including Campaign 4 Justice 4 Smiley Culture.

We ask everyone that can possibly make it to the march to do so.  However, if you are unable to make it, there are still lots of ways you can support the worthy aims of this campaign, which will not end when the march ends. We are in this for the long haul and ask that you stay with us and support the campaign until we achieve our aims.

Actions you can take NOW to support us are:

·        Share all the links (listed below) on your personal pages and your websites.

1.   Details of the March: http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/march-4-justice-july-2nd-in-birmingham.html

2.   Video Advert for the March: http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/marching-for-justice-for-kingsley.html

3.   JUSTICE FOR ALL 2011- download radio ad for March 4 Justice In Birmingham: http://soundcloud.com/justice4kingsley/justice-for-all-2011-radio-ad

4.   FaceBook Event Page for the March: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=111612942255660 

5. Official Campaign FaceBook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley 

6. Official Campaign Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/March4Justice  Follow: @March4Justice 7.
 
 7.  Official Campaign BlogSite: http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.com/ 

•  E-mail or post the links to other websites, newspapers and radio stations, community groups, churches and your friends and family.

·        Don’t forget friends and family that do not use the internet; phone around, visit and tell them all about the campaign and the march.  

·        ‘Like’ our FaceBook page and follow us on Twitter.

·        Print out posters/fliers (below) and display/distribute in your local area

HEARTFELT GRATITUDE  FOR YOUR SUPPORT:

JUSTICE FOR KINGSLEY, JUSTICE FOR ALL.

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE! 

https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley 

Kingsley Burrell's March for Truth and Justice - by Kedisha Brown-Burrell

Kedisha Brown-Burrell speaking at the March 4 Justice 4 Smiley Culture in April

 

There is literally just under three weeks remaining until my late brother’s KINGSLEY BURRELL Truth and Justice March in Birmingham.

I want the support of the community near and far to support this campaign and turn out in solidarity; if this was America the Black white Asian and Hispanic nationalities will be joining hands from day one! To stop deaths in custody, so why is it that our nationality is too complacent with themselves? Remember slavery days are still apparent within this country and the laws of Great Britain are built around secrecy. However, way you put it the shackles may be removed but the system is still controlling us in every way possible through laws passed through parliament and regulations put in place.

My family still cannot put my brother’s body to rest; it has been nearly three months since my brother died on the 30th March because the state decides to withhold my brother’s body for further investigation. Don’t you think he has suffered enough?

Nevertheless, I must stay focused and with the grace of god the truth will be revealed no matter how long this journey may take perseverance and determination is the key to victory.

Remember: NO JUSTICE NO PEACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



DJ'S AND RADIO STATIONS: PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS AD AND PLAY AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE:
http://soundcloud.com/justice4kingsley/justice-for-all-2011-radio-ad

Update from The Burrell Brown family following public meeting

 

 

by Kedisha Brown-Burrell on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 1:22pm

I want to say a big thank you to all those family and friends who attended the meeting on Friday evening at the Barford arms social club in preparation for my late brother, Kingsley Burrell, March for Truth and Justice on Saturday 2nd July.

Yesterday I began the leaflet distribution with the help of my good friend, god son followed by my two children. Areas covered yesterday includes: Hockley: Abbey Street (Door to door), Inner circle food shops Platinum spoon, Slawter, Domdines, and the barber shop next door, Russell’s Bakery, Bing Caribbean food shop. Handsworth: Giovani Hair dressers, Caribbean Kitchen, Record Shop off grove lane and finally Reggae City: down by Digbeth covered inside the event as well as all the cars out side. Tremendous response with how many people in the local community are fully aware of what happened to my brother and confirmed there support in attendance to the March.

By Paulette Ennever

 I did Northampton Carnival yesterday, I was surprised by the response I got to them a lot of the people I spoke to recognised the name and the circumstances and pledged support as well.I was especially happy to notice that at the end of the day I only saw one of the leaflets on the floor, unlike some others that had been handed out.

Next Meeting:
Family and Supporters meeting for March for Justice.

To all the Brown-Burrell family, friends and supportors we are having a meeting on Friday to update on what has happened, what is happening now and what is going to happen in the future.

The meeting is happening on the 17th June 2011, starting at 7:30pm in the evening. We are going to be at the Barford centre in the SNOOKER ROOM.
PLEASE TRY AND BE ON TIME!!!

Guys can you let other family/supporters know that aren't on Facebook.

We want Justice for Kingsley and the strong continued support of family and friends is needed. We can only do this if we help to spread the message of our fight against this injustice.
THE TRUTH IS OUR RIGHT NOT A PRIVILAGE...
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.

WE ARE NOT BEING CHARGED TO USE THE ROOM ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU BUY AT LEAST ONE DRINK AT THE BAR.

Thank you see all on Friday.

Please confirm attendance at: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=128269423919601

FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley

Friday, June 17 · 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Barford Centre, just off Dudley Road, Winson Green B16 0DY

British Justice?

The tragic death of Kingsley Burrell a young black man a father, brother and son at the hands of West Midlands Police is profoundly resonant in some ways of the policing style of South African apartheid regime, the epitome of a racist police state.


The Boer police were notorious for the brutal way they killed innocent black South Africans in their droves. Under apartheid South Africa there was a formal process of police accountability and judicial inquiry into such deaths. Mired in racist practice, the police would usually provide an account stating that the detainee had " jumped out of a fifth storey window " or " fell down four flights of stairs". The judgement was always the same no one was ever held to account and most of those involved would be praised and promoted.


Of course we have never had that level of racist oppression here in the UK. However when it comes to black deaths in custody there remains a whiff of apartheid like racism and injustice to the routine explanations of the black deaths in custody. We no longer hear of the police excuse that "he banged his head in the van "or the classic "he tripped and fell Sarge"


Things have moved and now we see police brutality explained in medical terms such as suggesting that the suspect "superhuman", "suffering from a cannabis psychosis" requiring the use of overwhelming and deadly force. My own personal favourite is the clinically cleaned "positional asphyxia" which is a non existent medical condition that means you died as a consequence of being violently restrained leaving you unable to breathe. Roughly translated that means you had five police officers kneeling on your back forcing the air out of you lungs to the point where were unable to breath and you died.


Kingsley's death on the 27th March shook Birmingham and London to its core. Communities were brutally reminded that, when it comes to any form of statutory detention, as black people we are still not safe and secure either as suspects, victims or patients. Kingsley had called the police whilst out with his son. He took refuge in a shop after he recognised a local gang that was stalking him. Knowing the violent reputation of this gang Kingsley did what we would all do in those circumstances he rang the police. As he waited and he saw what he believed to be the gang "tooling up "and rang other emergency services in the hope that someone anyone would arrive quickly and deter the gang.


When the West Midlands Police arrived what then transpired was a travesty and a nightmare. Instead of assisting Kingsley and his son the Police forcibly arrested him and his child. He is alleged to have been beaten by the police in full view of his son an experience that will now leave that little boy with the kind of deep emotional and psychological scar that will last a life time. Along with his daughter, these children are now deprived of a loving father.


The Police then took Kingsley to a local mental health unit and three days later, after being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kingsley Burrell was dead.


What is known is that Kingsley had no history of mental illness. What is known is Kingsley was not a violent man. What is known is that British Police officers are predisposed as a result of deeply held racial prejudices to treat black men in a much more violent and aggressive manner than white Britons.


So far there have been two initial coroners' hearings to try and identify the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent treatment. The West Midlands Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital, Birmingham are all in the dock. Meanwhile the Police Complaints Commission conducts an independent investigation.


The problem with these institutions that much like those of the apartheid era they do not enjoy the confidence of black and poor communities. Like them they can quote theoretical law and practice, point to a lack of evidence and arrive at similar conclusions. The Crown Prosecution Service has a blind spot for justice when the accused is a police officer and the victim is black.


They are disbelieved in their ability to do anything other than cover their own backs. These institutions lack credibility among black and poor communities and this is informed by numerous examples of where compelling evidence exists (of criminality or culpability) they refuse to charge..


In this society at this time we need to maintain the maximum public pressure on these organisations ensuring opaque levels accountability , adherence to the rule of law and prevention of systemic abuses of power and corruption.


The current administration of criminal justice system is infected at its core with systemic institutional racism.


The excuses have become much more sophisticated and racism in the system in much more nuanced but the judicial outcomes are entirely consistent. No one is ever held to account and that is why we need a public inquiry into suspicious deaths in custody. The restoration of public confidence in the fair administration of justice and the demand for justice for the victim's families
requires fundamental judicial reform.


The Justice 4 Smiley Culture Campaign, who are supporting the Burrell family have set up an e-petition that calls for a public inquiry into all deaths in custody and is attracting hundreds of signatures in support of the call for a public inquiry.


We must shine the bright light of public accountability on these institutions and that why the forthcoming national march highlighting suspicious deaths in custody and entitled the March for Truth and Justice for Kingsley Burrell due to take place on the 2nd July 2011 in Birmingham. It is vital if we are to ensure that Kingsley's children and wider family are afforded justice that we mobilise, promote and attend this march when such deeply troubling cases arise.


That why it is critically important that the wider public and campaigning groups keep the pressure on such institutions to maintain the highest standards. Maxi Hayles, head of Birmingham's Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit, said: "I call upon all people who believe in the principles of open and transparent justice to join with us and support this march. It is vital we find out what happened to our brother Kingsley and we will not rest until we find the truth."


Calling on the public to support the planned march he added, "We need your support to build this march and that requires you all to become cyber warriors for justice and take to the internet in your thousands to highlight this huge injustice and promote the march in support of the Burrell Brown family."


The plan is to assemble in Abbey Road Birmingham for 12 noon and then walk on past the Mary Seacole mental health unit in Winson Green, where Kingsley was taken. We then take the demonstration on to Bolton Road, Soho Road. Finally we head into the city centre to Lloyd House, the headquarters of West Midlands Police Service. There we will rally, chant and let Birmingham and the rest of the country know we are united in our quest for justice"


Lee Jasper a supporter of the campaign said: " First I would like to publicly thank the Voice Newspaper for its steadfast coverage of this tragic story at a time when most mainstream media are trying to sweep this issue under the carpet.


Their coverage has been first class and reminds us of the campaigning history of the Voice in its early days. Second to overcome this media reluctance we need people use social networks to spread the story far and wide eventually we will force them to give this story the coverage it deserves.


Finally we must promote the march ensuring that the Burrell family gets the support they deserve. This means we have to take the issue seriously and I would ask that every single day people dedicate some time to supporting this campaign. We are on the road to justice and the momentum must be increase. We must not predictably fade away once the heat of our emotion and outrage has gone. They expect us to run out of steam and we must now increase the pressure. No Justice No Peace !"


Speakers at the march will include campaigners and activists from around the country including Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice
fighting for justice for Powell who died in police custody in Birmingham more than six years ago. Merlin Emmanuel from the Smiley Culture Campaign, the Birmingham-based Julian Webster, who died under controversial circumstances outside the Pitcher and Piano nightclub and bar in Manchester in 2009 along with many others.


We must remove the stench of racism and injustice from the British system of justice. There can be no greater injustice than to call the Police for help and then being forcibly arrested and as a result of brutality end up dying in police custody.


Campaign for Justice for Kingsley Burrell: Contact: mhayles@btconnect.com

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley

Twitter: Follow @March4Justice

BlogPage: http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.com



Lee Jasper
http://leejasper.blogspot.com

www.leejasper.com

First Published at OBV Operation Black Vote: The home of Black Politics http://www.obv.org.uk

MARCH 4 JUSTICE IN BIRMINGHAM: ADVERT

Marching for justice for Kingsley Burrell and for all those that have died in police custody.
More details -
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley
Twitter: Follow @March4Justice
Please sign the petition for legislative reform regarding deaths in police custody: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopdeathsinpolicecustody/

MARCH 4 JUSTICE: JULY 2ND IN BIRMINGHAM - DETAILS



Official Flyer/Poster - please share and print and distribute: we are relying on you.



 MARCH FOR JUSTICE FOR KINGSLEY BURRELL

and for all those that have lost their lives in police custody.

We call on you to march with us in Birmingham

 One People with One Aim: JUSTICE FOR ALL

 Message from Kedisha: (Kingsley Burrell's sister)

  

Kedisha Brown-Burrell (Kingsley's sister) addressing the crowds at the
March 4 Justice 4 Smiley Culture in London in April  

"I'm not just calling on ethnic minority but global majority to bridge the gap between institutionalised racism and custodial deaths.

As a community at large we need to join forces in support of my late brother Kingsley Burrell’s Campaign as one step forward in challenging current legislation. Out of many we are one strong diverse culture with strong religious beliefs. Therefore I take this opportunity to invite one and all to take part in the March for Justice on Saturday 2nd July 2011 to be held in Birmingham.

We owe it to ourselves to guide and protect our past present and future generations in breaking through the chains of mental and physical slavery and I urge you all to attend in order show your support in this ongoing fight against inequalities in Great Britain." 

DATE: Saturday July 2^nd 2011

TIME: 12 noon

STARTING POINT: Abbey Street, Winson Green, Hockley, B18 5QS

FINISHING POINT AND RALLY AT: West Midlands Police HQ, Lloyd House, Colmore Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6NQ    

ROUTE: Assemble in Abbey Street from 12 noon, to march for 1pm, then walk on past the Seacole mental health unit in Winson Green, where Kingsley was taken, then on to Bolton Road, Soho Road and into the city centre to Lloyd House, the headquarters of West Midlands police. There we will rally.

TRANSPORT LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222463241103744  -

Coach from Brixton £11 return

www.thetrainline.com  - Train Tickets

http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/  - National Express – coaches from all over the UK

http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/classic/planner_main.jsp  -Route Planner

BACKGROUND AND LINKS TO CAMPAIGN PAGES

Article from the Voice:

‘March for Justice’ in Birmingham

By Poppy Brady

HOSPITAL: Kingsley Burrell was on life support and later died

THOUSANDS of people are expected to join a 'campaign for justice' march through the streets of Birmingham next month in support of Kingsley Burrell who died in March following contact with police.

It follows a similar march held in London on April 16 over the death of Smiley Culture, Burrell and others, and to demand an end to deaths in police custody.

Burrell's family said the father of two called West Midlands police for help, was admitted to a mental health unit, and then later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth hospital, where he was pronounced dead four days later on March 31.

No explanation has yet been given as to how and why the 29-year-old died. His family says he had no history of mental health problems and was in good health. Yet family members said he arrived at hospital with physical injuries.

Another inquest hearing is due to take place tomorrow (June 3) at Birmingham Coroner’s Court.

His sister Kedisha Brown-Burrell said: “As a family we are anxious for the coroner to release the body so we can say goodbye properly to Kingsley. The past two months have been extremely traumatic, especially for his two young children, but we have had tremendous support from so many people.

“We are united and will stay united in order to get justice. We have set up a Kingsley Burrell FaceBook page and had so much response.”

Brown-Burrell joined forces with the family of Smiley Culture last month in the peaceful march, which ended in a rally outside New Scotland Yard.

Birmingham’s march on Saturday, July 2, is planned to start in Abbey Road, Hockley, where Kingsley’s family used to live and are still well known.

Maxie Hayles, head of Birmingham’s Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit, said: “The plan is to assemble in Abbey Road from 12 noon, to march for 1pm, then walk on past the Seacole mental health unit in Winson Green, where Kingsley was taken, then on to Bolton Road, Soho Road and into the city centre to Lloyd House, the headquarters of West Midlands police. There we will rally, like we did outside New Scotland Yard.”

Speakers will include members of the Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice, set up in memory of Mikey Powell who died in police custody in Birmingham more than six years ago. There will also be family representing Birmingham-based Julian Webster, who died under controversial circumstances outside the Pitcher and Piano nightclub and bar in Manchester in 2009.

(Published: 02 June 2011 at http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=19895)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Article from the Voice:

  'Kingsley Burrell's heart showed no obvious abnormality,'     says coroner

By Poppy Brady

THE HEART of tragic Kingsley Burrell who died following contact with police three months ago had "no obvious abnormality" according to a doctor's report, an inquest hearing heard in Birmingham.

But coroner Aidan Cotter said this could not rule out that the condition of the 29-year-old's heart played some role in his death at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 31st.

Speaking at the third inquest hearing, Mr Cotter warned Kingsley's family that a full inquest was still a very long time away as the scale of the investigation into the father-of-two’s death was immense. He said he was not able at this stage to tell them when Kingsley’s body could be released for burial.

Kingsley allegedly called West Midlands Police for help on March 27th in the Hockley area of Birmingham where he was out with his five-year-old son. He was admitted to a mental health unit despite his family saying he had no history of mental illness, and transferred three days later to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Mr Cotter said it was crucial to find out what Kingsley’s injuries were when he died and what caused his death so the proper facts could be revealed early.

But he warned against people putting their opinions on the Internet as this could be in danger of prejudicing members of an inquest jury later on.

“The less you put on the Internet the better. What does appear there should be factually accurate, not people’s opinions,” he said. “This is why it is important the correct facts are brought out early so people do not start adding to the story, so we end up with something that is nowhere near the truth.”

Mr Cotter urged anyone with information on Kingsley’s death to write to him directly, as he needed all the information he could gather to get the full picture of how he died.

“All too often at inquests people say ‘why wasn’t that mentioned?’ If they do not tell me, I cannot guess,” he added.

But he said what he had so far had been very helpful, particularly a statement from Kingsley’s mother Janet Brown, a doctor’s report and a letter from his GP.

“I still need more information,” he said. “I need to find out if a crime has been committed and if police officers have behaved themselves. If there are criminal proceedings they will be dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service; if there are complaints about individual doctors or nurses that will be directed to the General Medical Council and if it’s a case of negligence it will be dealt with by the High Court.”

Mr Cotter outlined the scale of the investigation by explaining that 80 witnesses had to be interviewed and CCTV footage had to be looked at in detail.

At the hearing there were representatives from the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital, Birmingham.

Gill Harrad, of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust said detailed statements had been taken from everyone who had contact with Kingsley and 28 interviews had been set up.

She added: “There is also an internal investigation taking place. We are liaising with University Hospital Birmingham and also the West Midlands Ambulance Service.”

The next inquest hearing is due to take place on Monday July 18th where more detailed interim reports are expected to be heard.

(Published: 03 June 2011 at

 http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=19915)

 Campaign for Justice for Kingsley Burrell:

OFFICIAL WEBSITES

 FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley  and https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley#!/home.php?sk=group_188627871181535&ap=1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/March4Justice  Follow: @March4Justice

BlogSite: http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.com/

Please design and display posters for the March 4 Justice on July 2nd in Birmingham.

Poster Details:

MARCH FOR JUSTICE

for  KINGSLEY BURRELL

 and for all those that have died in suspicious circumstances in police custody.

Kingsley, a father of two, called West Midlands police for help, was admitted to a mental health unit, then later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth hospital, where he was pronounced dead four days later on March 31. He had no history of mental health issues, and was in previous good health yet he was admitted to hospital with physical injuries. The family, and all of us, demand answers.

March with on July 2nd 2011

We march as one people with one aim: Justice!

MEETING IN ABBEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM

12 noon

Marching to West Midlands Police HQ 
where we will hold a rally

Speakers include members of the Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Mikey Powell (who died in police custody in Birmingham more than six years  ago), and speakers from the Campaign for Justice for Smiley Culture: (the reggae singer who died in suspicious custody in March this year). There will also be family representing Birmingham-based Julian Webster, who died under controversial circumstances outside the Pitcher and Piano nightclub and bar in Manchester in 2009.