It happened in Scotland
PARTNER My Sheku was a victim of police brutality and racism.. why was there no outrage at his death? George Floyd was kneeled upon until he took his last breath SO WAS SHEKU George Floyd said, I can’’t breathe SO DID SHEKU
THE partner of Sheku Bayoh insists his death in police custody in Scotland draws harrowing parallels with the killing of George Floyd.
Collette Bell is “devastated” by the death of George, 46, in the US but is also “frustrated” there has not been the same outrage over black lives lost here in the UK.
George, a dad to a six-year-old girl, Gianna, died after a white police officer kept his knee on the side of his neck for almost nine minutes while he was handcuffed and lying face down.
Sheku died in Kirkcaldy in 2015 after he was restrained by up to nine police officers using CS spray, pepper spray and batons. Medical evidence suggested he died of positional asphyxia - meaning he was unable to breath.
Collette said: “George Floyd was kneeled upon until he took his last breath. So was Sheku, only more weight and more officers kneeled upon him.
“George Floyd stated, ‘I can’t breathe’. So did Sheku.”
She added: “It was police brutality and racism and it happened in Scotland.
“I too have been left devastated by the death of George Floyd. Another black life wrongfully killed at the hands of police brutality. But I can’t help but be frustrated that when this brutality happens in America, we all know about it and people across the UK speak out against it - while there is widespread ignorance to the fact this happens in the UK.”
Police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with George’s murder. In contrast, Sheku’s family were told last November that no police would be prosecuted over his death.
Collette said: “Where I, of course, want justice for George Floyd, I also want justice for all black lives taken by police in the UK. Until police are held accountable, police brutality will continue.”
Trainee gas engineer Sheku, 31, a father of two, had no previous history of violence. He arrived in Scotland from Sierra Leone as a teenager and had moved to Kirkcaldy to live with his sister.
Sheku died after being restrained by officers responding to a report of a man behaving erratically and carrying a knife.
He was unarmed when police arrived.
Sheku had taken the drugs MDMA and Flakka, explaining his uncharacteristic behaviour. He was found to have suffered 25 separate injuries. He was pronounced dead in hospital about two hours after coming into contact with police. Collette is the mother of Sheku’s son Isaac, who was three months old when his father died. She said: “I don’t think racism will ever go away and I fear for Isaac.” Collette said Sheku experienced racism “most days” in Scotland. She added: “He would often come home and say he felt people stared at him as if he was an alien. He said people would see him and get out his way as if they feared him, yet Sheku was a gentle man.”
Sheku had moved to Scotland from London for a safer life, believing there was not the same culture of police brutality towards black people here.
Collette said: “I’d argue with him that the police are there to help and protect you, which was white ignorance on my part and a lesson I have heartbreakingly had to learn and one that I must remember for the safety of my son.”
Yesterday, Sheku’s sister Kadi Johnston said we must remember black lives matter not only in the US but in the UK and Scotland.
She said: “Enough is enough.
For how long are we going to suffer like this? Why do we have to be killed by the ones who are supposed to protect us.
“How long do we have to cry for our brothers, our partners, our loved ones? For how long do mothers have to cry for their sons? Change has to happen now. Our lives matter too.”
She said that when Sheku died, her family was praised by the authorities for their dignity. But as in George’s case, there were attempts to smear her brother.
Kadi said: “We were extremely angry and in pain. His white friends wanted to take to the streets and so did we but we trusted in the authorities to do the right thing.
“Five years on, not one police officer has been prosecuted and they blame my brother for his own death.” The Scottish Government announced in January it will hold a public inquiry into Sheku’s death. It will examine the issue of race in relation to the officers’ actions.
Aamer Anwar, the lawyer for the Bayoh family, said the public inquiry was welcome but was not enough. He added: “I truly hope it will bring change and legacy but, ultimately, it is the barest minimum the system has offered and certainly is not justice.
“The reality for the Bayohs and Collette is that five days of protest in the US has delivered more than five years of waiting for the Scottish criminal justice system to act. At least in the US, the family of George know a police officer will stand trial for his murder.
“Over last few days, many people have asked me how they can fight racism. My response is that if you want to do more than post a hashtag, are full of outrage against racial injustice then start with where you live - Scotland.
“One key element of that is to join the justice campaign for Sheku Bayoh, so the whole world knows his name.”
Anwar and the Bayoh family have reluctantly turned down a request to speak at an event on Sunday in Glasgow supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, because of Covid-19 concerns.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said yesterday: “The death of Sheku Bayoh was, and remains, a terrible tragedy. It has had a traumatic impact on his family and friends, as well as affecting many people within policing and the wider community of Kirkcaldy and Scotland.
“I am committed to supporting all those who have been affected by Sheku Bayoh’s death.
“I met privately with the family of Sheku Bayoh in December 2019 and expressed to his mother and sister my sincere personal condolences, and those of the service. I also undertook that Police Scotland will participate fully in the public inquiry in an open and transparent manner.”
He added: “It is vital that the role and independence of the public inquiry is respected to ensure the application of the rule of law, due process, and justice being served.”
RIDING on her uncle’s shoulders at a demo, the daughter of tragic George Floyd declared: “My Daddy changed the world.”
Heartbreaking footage of Gianna, six, was captured on Tuesday in Minneapolis – where her father’s death at the hands of white police ignited a powder keg of racial tension in the US. Mother Roxie Washington yesterday told how her little girl does not yet know how the 46-year-old died or why she must grow up
without him. But as Gianna took in scenes of peace and unity at the demo that are being echoed worldwide, she understood that he leaves a lasting legacy.
In the UK, Star Wars actor John Boyega, 28, gave a speech to 15,000 people gathered in London’s Hyde Park, telling them: “Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important.
“We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain’t waiting.”
The protest then moved to No10, where four policemen outside knelt down as campaigners chanted “take a knee”, and Victoria Station.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him. And my message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States from the UK is racism, racist violence has no place in our society.” Later some of the protests turned ugly as groups clashed with police.
Gianna appeared on TV show Good Morning America with Roxie, George’s ex, yesterday and said: “I miss him... he played with me.” Roxie added: “I want everybody to know this is what those officers took. They get to go home and be with their families. Gianna does not have a father. He’ll never see her grow up. I’m here for my baby and for George. Because I want justice for him.”
Footage of officer Derek Chauvin, 44, kneeling on George’s neck on May 25 sparked outrage. He is now charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder.
The violence and looting that has marred demos has eased. Trump had called violent protesters “domestic terrorists”.
George had moved to Minneapolis in search of better job opportunities – and sent cash to Roxie back in Houston, Texas, every month. He will be buried there next week.