PRESS STATEMENT – SHEKU BAYOH PUBLIC INQUIRY OPENING SESSION 2
TUESDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2022
LORD BRACADALE- CHAIR – OPENING STATEMENT THIS MORNING TO THE INQUIRY CONDEMNS RACIST ABUSE OF THE BAYOH FAMILY & THEIR LAWYER
“It has come to my attention that core participants in this Inquiry have been subject to abuse on social media or in writing. I abhor such abuse, whatever its source and against whomever it is directed. Recently it has been reported to me that the family of Sheku Bayoh and their solicitor have been subjected to racist abuse. I am sure that everyone associated with this Inquiry will agree with me that such behaviour is despicable and entirely unacceptable. In some instances it may amount to hate crime.
In every instance it causes the recipients and members of their family, some of whom may be quite young, pain, distress and harm. The families of Sheku Bayoh remain at the heart of this Inquiry. The Inquiry strongly condemns such treatment of them and calls for it to cease.”
STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES OF SHEKU BAYOH-BY THEIR LAWYER AAMER ANWAR- IN ADVANCE OF THE START OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY
In over 7 years and 6 months the family of Sheku Bayoh have refused to be silenced, bullied or patronised. Kadi Johnson, has no doubt that the way Sheku or her family was treated by the justice system, by the Crown Office, PIRC and by the police would not have happened had Sheku been white,
Their treatment was compounded by repeated attacks from those within the police who remain in a ‘child-like’ denial about the existence of racism. The police painted an image of a dangerous large black man,with stereotypical characteristics of extraordinary strength, wielding a machete,
Yet we now know Sheku was unarmed, but he was dehumanised, smeared, stereotyped to strip him of his right to life. In less than one minute of the first police officers arriving,-Sheku was face down on the ground losing consciousness struggling for his last breath.
Sheku was only 5ft 10inches weighing 12 stones 10 pounds, that is 80 kg, but up to 6 officers restrained him on the ground, they weighed around a total of 636kg. Handcuffed, leg restraints, and ankle restraints, he was battoned to the head at least twice, CS & PAVA sprayed.
When Sheku’s lifeless body arrived at the hospital he was shackled like a slave. His body was covered with over 24 separate injuries, bruises, cuts, lacerations and a broken rib. Yet there were never any charges brought against the police, not murder, culpable homicide, serious assault, assault, no attempt to pervert the cause of justice, no health and safety prosecution for Police Scotland.
If black lives still matter, then stand up for the family of Sheku Bayoh, If justice matters then stand up for the family of Sheku Bayoh. For over seven years our justice system that has told the Bayoh’s it is colour blind, but it is a privileged and ignorant system, desensitised to the loss of innocent life.
Sheku’s family believe his skin colour was treated as a weapon, his blackness was an excuse for his being met with overwhelming lethal force.
The real test of this inquiry will be whether real change will take place in an unaccountable, all powerful justice system. Sheku had a right to life, Sheku will not be forgotten.
His family will not stop loving and remembering him, but never mistake this family’s quiet dignity & pain for weakness, they remain full of rage and make no mistake- they will not rest until there is justice.
STATEMENT BY KADIE JOHNSON (SISTER OF SHEKU BAYOH)
Good morning everyone and thank you very much to the Trade Union movement for being here today and standing in solidarity with me and my family. I have been asking for many years if Sheku had not come across the police would he be alive today, I believe he would.
I have asked the inquiry to please tell me how and why my brother had to die in custody of the police, but 7 years on we are still waiting for answers.
So far all we have got is lies. It has been a tough journey and along the way we have faced a lot of disappointments as well as racist abusive messages even up to last night.
But we welcomed a meeting with Lord Bracadale yesterday and his strong condemnation today of the racist abuse to our family and threats made to our lawyer Aamer Anwar.
We are in for a long haul with the inquiry and your support gives me the strength and courage to keep pressing on till justice prevails. Once again thank you very much for your continual support. Unity is power. Justice for Sheku Bayoh.
Thank You
