80% Of Cops Are Killers Police Commissioner Paul Condon's comments that '80% of muggers are black' only tells us something we already knew: that cops are out to get black people. People who think this is political paranoia could check out the story of a former trainee woman cop from Brixton published in a July issue of the usually hardcore reactionary paper, the South London Press. She was given the push for not nicking her quota of enough black people. What Condon's celebrated figures in fact say is that if you are a working class man then you've got a higher chance of being a mugger than if you're from Hampstead. Police intelligence must have had a hard time working that one out. The climate of outrage among the black community has been also fuelled by the acquittal of the two immigration cops on trial for the murder of Joy Gardner. She was killed during a raid on her house in July 1993 when these cops taped her legs together and her mouth closed. She developed brain damage and died. The cops claimed that she was 'struggling violently'. Wouldn't you? In mid-July, it was announced that no coppers would be charged over the death of Shiji Lapite, arrested by Stoke Newington officers in December '94. Throttled by cops, he died on the way to the station but the Crown Prosecution Service say there's no evidence. He was arrested after being said to have thrown away a bag of crack. Given Stokey cops dubious drug dealing history, it's hard to believe any of their drugs charges. Following demos in May, a successful series of public meetings across London and a larger march to Kennington copshop on June 10th, and a (sadly small and left-dominated) marche with the Joy Gardner Campaign on the 5th August, the family of Brian Douglas (another black man arrested and murdered by the filth) are involved in the planning of a national March For Justice on October 7th. Other campaigns and supporters involved include the Wilston Silcott Defence Campaign and the Colin Roach Centre. For info and to get involved yourself, contact PO Box 858, London E9 3HU * Brian Douglas Campaign: c/o 77a Atlantic Rd, Brixton, SW9 Tel: 0171-737-7790 * Colin Roach Centre (campaigning for Shiji Lapite case), 56 Clarence Rd, London E5. Tel: 0181-533-7111 ...and it on it goes Friends and relatives of David Ewin, shot dead by police in Barnes, S.W London in February, have started a campaign for the suspension and charging with murder of the un-named cop who shot David and for the withdrawal of Paul Condon's public commendation to the mystery officer. David was killed when the firearms unit copper fired at point blank range, claiming self-defence although David was un-armed. The cop claims he had clung onto the car David was driving and shot him to avoid being rammed between two other cars. Four eye-witnesses however have come forward to say that the car was at a halt after being blocked in and that the cop was standing alongside it, holding the gun steady in two hands, when he fired without a warning. Who can we possibly believe, readers? David died 17 days later in hospital having never regained consciousness. His widow, Sarah gave birth to their son just weeks later. Alongside supporters from the Malcolm Kennedy and Patrick Quinn Campaigns, a public meeting was held in Hammersmith about David on July 24th and more actions are planned. There was also a thirty-strong picket of Hammersmith Police Station on Monday 7th August. The Kennedy/Quinn Campaign pickets this pigsty every month (see contacts). * Justice for David Ewin campaign: P.O. Box 7839, London SW15 4ZA. Tel: 01973-402809