Who does the police work for? A Statement by Southall Black Sisters

[IwantToRetire]

This is from October last year and I thought there was a thread about it, but if there was it has gone. So will post link to the statement from that time as there has been an update today.

On the night of Friday, the 29th September, Selma Taha, Executive Director of SBS, and her friends were verbally and physically assaulted in an extremely violent racist attack on public transport; this included pulling clumps of hair off Selma and her friend and biting Selma’s flesh, leaving a deeply embedded imprint of her teeth which necessitated a tetanus injection and antibiotics.

A Metropolitan Detective Constable was present at the scene but did nothing to de-escalate the verbal racist abuse when the assailant, a white woman, began making monkey sounds, calling Selma and her friends “bitches”, and “slaves,” and subjecting them to other vile racist slurs. Nor did he apprehend the attacker until it turned into extremely violent physical assault.

To make sense of today's statement you do read the original statement in full which is at https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/news/who-does-the-police-work-for-a-statement-by-southall-black-sisters/

Update – Violent Racist Attack on Selma Taha and Friends

On 5 October 2023, I made it known publicly that I and two friends had been the victims of racist abuse and physical violence on the tube, and that a police officer was present, off-duty, who had failed to intervene during the incident to de-escalate the situation so as to protect me and my friends.

In a development that is deeply shocking to the three of us, the CPS has now made the following charging decisions:https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/news/update-violent-racist-attack-on-selma-taha-and-friends/

Imagine being faced with that when you turn up to court!

You couldn't make it up. If it wasn't so serious its like a script from a farce.

From the hearing yesterday https://www.facebook.com/womansplaceuk/videos/834426721844061/

I do not have many strict rules in life, but believing women, when they say that happened to me, is one of them.
The attacker admitted that had happened so there is no point in demanding CCTV by mumsnetters.
Given that this charity is fighting CJS injustice - puts the foil hat on- I have a feeling that this is not a mistake.

I believe it happened.

I suppose people will differ on the extent they feel their reaction was proportionate.

self defence is no offence- but there’s always debate about what’s legitimate self defence.

But their charges have nothing to do with overdoing self defence. Not the police, neither CPS questioned that, their charges imply that in the eyes of CJS they are as guilty as the attacker.

I understand why you are uncomfortable, we like to think that the system works and people in general ale good and nice.

You asked why no one reacted to racial abuse. It is possible that people around poses characteristic that make them a target too and the people who would be safe when interacting with the attacker did not cared enough.
It happens to women of all races all the time, there are men who can stop other men from abusing women but they do not care.

I am shocked and uncomfortable as well. Learning that it was a white woman who attacked this group saddens me. I guess whatever shit goes on in this woman life as long as there are lesser women than her the shit is tolerable.

Interesting thread, however I can't make heads nor tails of the legal situation. Can anyone lay it out in laymans terms, briefly, explaing what the fuck is going on.

I am interested to know what has happened - also because it was all women involved - the three SBS, the woman attacker and also the policewoman. It does make the concept of 'always believe the woman' a bit difficult. Maybe it's all true at once?

For a single woman to attack a group of three woman, to pull out hair and bite a chunk of flesh, she has to be pyscopathic or pissed up. It's bonkers behaviour, very abnormal. Slightly more believable that it was in a self-defence?

Surely the CCTV would clear it up really easily? and the off-duty police officer could provide evidence.

@middledagedjobseeker Aside from anything else, I'm deeply shocked that a black person can be accused of anythingracially aggravated against a white person. Isn't thepointof racial aggravation that it about structural racism, not calling someone who ultimately has more power than you a 'white bitch' or whatever?

Well, hope you've recovered from your deep shock and are ready to accept reality. Is there I wonder a smell of freshly roasted coffee in the air? There is nothing in the law that provides that there is any such one way direction to racially aggravated offences.

If the Black Women were racially abused and didn't sit back and passively take it, then they'll automatically be seen and treated as the aggressors. This is UK thats how it goes here. Im surprised that you're surprised.

I can't recall the name of the young Black Woman who was racially abused and beaten in Wales. But she reported the attack yet the police arrested her. She ended up being charged and jailed. She's only 5ft and wss apparently the 'aggressor' against 2 women and 1 man. All bigger, and older than her.

People love to say 2 sides to every story when they know very well which side will be believed. Do people really not know of racism by the police and CPS? Or maybe they do but don't care I suppose.

I don’t recall that case Dee, but as you point out it’s unlikely a young woman attacks three bigger stronger women, so looks like racism from them and the police, unless there’s information we don’t know.

However, If it was unlikely for her to attack them, it’s not surprising we’re wondering why the other woman would attack the three SBS women? I mean, it’s clear there was disgusting verbal abuse, but to get physical seems stupidly reckless.

It’s sad that we can have no faith in the system to handle this correctly. Whatever happens next, I can’t see anyone accepting it.

We can’t even talk about it here without stirring anger.

This PDF file evidences my claims it has been saved in the WayBack machine
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091211130403/www.triodos.co.uk/uk/static/pdf/Inspiring_Change_2007-08.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/static/pdf/Inspiring_Change_2007-08.pdf

Pp25 funding for SBS in 2007-8 alongside, on multiple pages, funding for various Steiner Schools (I believe I described the racist principles of anthroposophy and the links between Steiner schools and Triodos in my first post yes?) and organisations providing “complementary medicine” (also covered in my link to to the article about “The Bank That Likes to say Quack”), that same article contains links covering the important issue of the racist principles underlying anthroposophy, if you care to read them.

On pp 32-4 of the PDF file there are some notorious cults in receipt of funding, e.g.

EnlightenNext (run by Andrew Cohen)
For those who don’t know this was a notorious cult that has been well documented over the last few years, with multiple documentaries and news articles covering the abuses, but some links for the lazy

The Wikipedia page touches on some of the abuses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cohen_(spiritual_teacher)#Controversies)

Cult survivors of EnlighteNext / Evolutionary Enlightenment have made and appeared various videos, a few are here;

'Holy Sh*t, We’re in a Cult!'

Unveiling Andrew Cohen - How I Created A Cult - S01 EP01 - Cult Documentary

Andrew Cohen's Dark Secrets - How I Created A Cult - S01 EP02 - Cult Documentary

Andrew Cohen's Downfall - How I Created A Cult - S01 EP03 - Cult Documentary

EnlightenNext was involved in the Occupy movement and created their own “Occupy Zero” movement where they marched and then meditated alongside Global Womens’ Strike, amongst others.

OCCUPY ZERO! - EnlightenNext Meditation Marathon
“Registration fee:
£30 for meditating from four to 24 hours
£10 for meditating four hours or less”

Andrew Cohen even created a women’s liberation movement called “Evolving Women” which he claimed was “A New Spiritual Frontier for Transforming Self & Society”
Interested readers can discover more about this group here
www.evolutionaryworldview.com/?p=274 (archived in the WayBack Machine)

Playlist of videos about Andrew Cohen and the EnlightenNext cult here
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0oVWxcTwY1PBtq6Ao21Z8blSQk1dTsDr

There are plenty other cults too, but I have a busy day so it will take me a while to cover them all. The important thing to bear in mind is that Triodos is the bank that likes to fund projects linked to unreality. Whether it is fake, abusive gurus and cult leaders, quackery or environmental projects promoting “biodynamic farming” (supernatural / occult methods of organic agriculture based on the beliefs of Rudolph Steiner) they seem to want to throw money at it. Many of these projects also have revolutionary elements to them and are linked to social justice activism. Nothing wrong with activism of course, but as anyone who has their eyes and ears open knows, so much of SJW activism is for astroturfed and fake causes with sinister underlying agendas.

I can’t claim to know how this links to the SBS, but given that they have been supported by Triodos for many years I cannot help but feel immensely curious.

I should point out that well meaning, non-corrupt organisations can become embroiled with larger movements with revolutionary / sinister agendas. Such well meaning groups can be used to obscure what is going on, just as naive persons are used by cults for the same reason. Sometimes they become corrupted / used over time, sometimes they remain in the dark about the true gender of their funder / supporter. I have no idea what has happened here

I am just immensely curious about WTF happened for SBS to get involved with such a controversial bank with an underlying racist philosophy.

I believe that intense curiosity is an appropriate mindset under the circumstances.

A Triodos link evidencing support of SBS the earliest archived page I can find goes back to 2005
<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050318225517/www.triodos.co.uk/uk/who_we_finance/savings/culture_and_welfare/community_projects/84498?lang=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/who_we_finance/savings/culture_and_welfare/community_projects/84498?lang=

HTH

If you get angry at the idea that there should be equality in law then you are the problem. If you think wanting to see the evidence is racism you are the problem.

Someone who was shouting abuse at 3 women who asked her to take more care with her suitcase sounds as though she had something wrong with her, whether that is drink., drugs or other problem. So she may have attacked 3 women. One or more of the 3 women may have initiated the violence because they were sick of racial abuse, we dont know.

We all know there is racism in the police but stating that black women are automatically regarded as aggressors is to slur the entire police force for the actions of some.

I believe in innocent until proved guilty. I dont think there should be threads like this when a case is ongoing.

you are right. Police officers should make an intel report if they see a significant offence or call 999 and inform the operators. Half the time the operators I’ve dealt with leave a lot of pity to actual police officers.

In hindsight agree with pp's there really shouldnt be a post/thread about this matter at this stage. Especially not on this board. Im mindful of similar in the past.

Including the Black Woman bus incident where she was accused of not having a ticket (she did have a ticket) cue heavy handed police tactics, all in in front of her hysterically crying child. She was verbally torn to shreds here. As ever, if Black Women don't passively put up with targetting they automatically 'must have had an attitude' .But now that PC Perry Lathwood has been charged with assault in the matter its 🤐.

"This thread is nuts. It’s one long “hmmm” 🤔 and excuses and justifying of utterly appalling racist abuse. Not every post, but most.
I can’t believe the tone of it to be honest.
Why didn’t anyone intervene if there was racist abuse"

We have no idea if anyone else heard the racist abuse or when/how loudly it was said. Personally I zone out when on the tube.
We have still only heard one side.
Someone up thread has said a police woman was involved. Has that been reported?

Then it's a poor law, it strips racism of its history, severity & power and gives the police, an institutionally racist organisation with the power of arrest, some pretty woolly guidelines.

There's nothing in the law to protect anyone from classism either, something that's also endemic. The law isn't created in everyone's interests.

Well of course the law isnt created in everyone's interests - how naïve. The purpose of law initially was to protect property rights of the rich and powerful and that is still a large part of it. However we do now have other laws designed to restore some balance to the system. They've been hard fought for, often by the people at whom some posters shout "racism" every time everyone doesnt immediately jump to agree with them. It's a bullying tactic and one used extensively by misogynist MRAs. Shows me you dont care about justice in the slightest.

Might want to ask MN to move this to the Black Mumsnetters board. This is just going to be catnip to the “racism against white people” crew here.

I would be extremely interested in the SBS's perspective on the issues raised in this video, as SBS have been receiving financial support from Triodos since at least 2005

Steiner schools racism and bullying concerns revealed - Newsnight

This video is also extremely interesting in relation to bullying, false allegations, gaslighting and DARVO in relation to the Steiner movement

We don’t know what the white woman admitted to or what she accepted a caution for.

How am I naive for pointing out the Law is made, by and for, mostly men of a particular class?

You've made quite the leap from my questioning the equivalence of anti-white racism versus endemic racism towards minorities to accuse me of being a men's rights activist.

That's quite a leap.

It’s really not difficult - if both victim and perpetrator are women then you believe the white one. If both are white then it gets trickier but the safe money will be on the one with the less foreign-sounding accent.

I do agree that a black woman calling a white police officer "You white bastard" is not the same as a white woman calling a black police officer "You black bastard" (if that's what happened), because of the different historic and current power dynamics. But I can't see how you can have a law that allows one and not the other, because races do not neatly divide into oppressed and oppressor. There's a history of anti-African racism in India, for example, but obviously Indians are themselves often subject to racism for not being white. And what about mixed race people?

I can't see how the law could work without treating all abuse based on race on an equal footing.

I absolutely disagree, I think saying 'you white bastard' is the same as 'you black bastard'. It might not make the victim feel the same - as it would likely be more insulting to human-with-black-skin than a human-with-white-skin due to racist history, however the intention from the perpatrator is the same. You are insulting someone and using their skin colour to degrade them.

I'm so done with the bullshit of being able to call people 'white' as an insult and it supposedly being acceptable - it's not.