Solidarity with Selma Taha and her friends

Update

Thank you to the women’s groups from across the UK, and others who gathered, in solidarity with Selma Taha, Divinia Riggon & Danae Thomas outside Highbury Magistrates court earlier this month. The case has been adjourned. Read Southall Black Sisters update here.

BBC  I  Evening Standard  I  The Guardian

Please join us at 1pm, 26 April at Highbury Magistrates case #IStandWithSelmaTaha #DropTheRacistCharges #Kingsx3

Thank you to all who attended Highbury Magistrates Court in solidarity with Selma Taha & her friends.

Please join us at 1pm April 26th. #DropTheRacistCharges #IStandWithSelmaTaha pic.twitter.com/h6eRZFEVsv

— Woman’s Place UK (@Womans_Place_UK) April 12, 2024

Statement

On Friday 29th September, Selma Taha, director of Southall Black Sisters (SBS), and her two friends she was traveling with, were subjected to racist abuse and physical violence on the London Underground. WPUK stand in solidarity with Selma Taha and her friends

You can read more about the attack, and subsequent police failures in their October statement Who do the police work for?  

Thirty years after the Macpherson Report highlighted the Met’s institutional racism and misogyny and confirmed by the recent Casey Report, we have seen little change to restore our faith. At a time of heightened sensitivity and acknowledgment of these issues, it is not unreasonable to expect better policing. Yet again we are being treated as offenders first and victims later.

Southall Black Sisters

We are appalled by the subsequent CPS charging decisions. Please see the recent SBS statement, Update – Violent Racist Attack on Selma Taha and Friends

“It would not be appropriate for me to make further public comment given this development, save to confirm that we will be fighting the charges, and that we regard these charges as criminalising the right of Black people, and in particular Black women, to call out racist abuse and resist racist violence.

Selma Taha

The first court hearing  is 11 April 2024, 10am, at Highbury Magistrates Court. Along with other women’s organisations, we will be outside the court from 9am. Please join us in solidarity with Selma and her friends.

The racist attack on Selma Taha and the poor police response demonstrates the vital role organisations like Southall Black Sisters play in challenging interpersonal and institutionalised racism. This includes their dedicated service to Black and minoritised women. We know that racism thrives wherever it is not challenged, including in the Metropolitan Police

#IStandWithSelmaTaha Woman’s Place UK 

Southall Black Sisters are appealing for witnesses. If you, or someone you know witnessed this attack please contact SBS via info@southallblacksisters.co.uk You can donate to support the work of Southall Black Sisters here.

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Solidarity with Selma Taha and her friends

Art credit Emma Jackson

 

 

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Anti-racism