27th May 2005, Birmingham UK
Get the leaflet HERE
Families and friends of death in custody victims will be gathering from all
over Britain to launch a major new campaign. The West Midlands Families Support
Group aim to unite families who have lost loved ones in police custody, prisons
and mental institutions across the Midlands. The event will be hosted by the
world renowned poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who famously refused the OBE, and
includes a screening of the controversial documentary INJUSTICE about deaths
in police officers, currently banned from UK television.
The evening, taking place at the DRUM in Birmingham, aims to provide a platform
for several local family campaigns including the Mikey Powell Campaign for
Justice and the family of Michael Bailey who died recently in Rye Hill Prison.
Other families present include Pauline Campbell whose 18 year old daughter
died in Style Prison as well as Brenda Weinberg the sister of Brian Douglas
who died as a result of police violence in London over ten years ago.
The event MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER 'staying focused - keeping up the struggle'
is led by the Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice and is supported by Migrant
Media, the film makers that made the INJUSTICE film. The event will highlight
the dramatic increase of deaths in custody over recent years as well as the
continuing refusal of the State to successfully prosecute those responsible.
The evening will hear from other organisations including INQUEST, National
Assembly Against Racism, 1990 Trust and United Families & Friends Campaign.
The event ends with soul and hip-hop performances with artists from Birmingham,
Coventry and London.
Claris Powell mother of 38 year old Michael Powell who died
in police custody in Birmingham in September 2003 said: "I Just want
justice to be done for Mikey sooner rather than later. I'm disgusted that
this is taking so long"
Pauline Campbell mother of Sarah Campbell who died in HMP
Styal aged 18:
Ever since my daughter's death I have been searching for justice for Sarah.
This government have failed both Sarah and myself. I am now considering legal
action against the Home Office under the Human Rights act.
Caroline Bailey mother of 23 year old Michael Bailey who
died in Rye Hill Prison said: "I want to know what happened to my son.
The system has let us down. We are praying for Michael as well as all the
others that are still in prison fearing for their lives. My son is dead, they
have started something and we are not going to stop."
Brenda Weinberg, sister of Brian Douglas who died in May
1995 as a result of a blow from a police baton: "Dead is dead it¹s
permanent, it¹s forever and wanting justice for that death is also forever.
I can¹t grieve, I can¹t put Brian to rest ever, if I know someone¹s
walking around out there responsible for his death and they haven¹t been
brought to justice."
Tippa Naphtali, Chair of the Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice
said "Only by joining forces in a collaborative and sustained manner
can we weaken the systems that fosters and protects those that take our loved
ones"
Further information: 07770 432 439 or 0774 008 3915
www.mikeypowell-campaign.org.uk
www.injusticefilm.co.uk