‘Today is a momentous day. It is time to let the people know we are not going to accept this,’ Merlin Emmanuel told a crowd outside Scotland Yard on Saturday.
He was addressing a rally at the end of a 2,000 strong ‘No justice, No Peace’ march against deaths in police custody called by the Smiley Culture family campaign.
Merlin, the nephew of David Emmanuel aka Smiley Culture, added: ‘We have been betrayed by the state.
‘The government is supposed to represent the people.
‘Instead, it serves the national interest.
‘We are here to promote change. Mr Cameron says he has a special interest in the NHS.
‘We have a special interest in the police and those interests are the arrests, the beatings and harassment.
‘We have little faith in the IPCC.
‘The British judicial system needs changing.
‘Yesterday, we were buying my uncle David Emmanuel, also known as Smiley Culture.
‘He would be here if it were not for the police.
‘A few days ago, another man died, Kingsley Burrell.’
Addressing Scotland Yard, Merlin added: ‘You people here, hear us, you are not above the law.
‘We demand every officer, when it comes to deaths in custody, should immediately be suspended.
‘People should not be employed to investigate who have a conflict of interest.
‘Police involved in a death in custody should take a lie detector test under oath.
‘There should be a mobile recording of arrests.’
Concluding his remarks, he said: ‘This is not the end, we are just warming up.
‘We will hold a concert on behalf of all those who died in custody.
‘We will be releasing Smiley Culture’s hit record “Police Officer”, and we are taking it to Number 10.’
Disabled Jody McIntyre, who was dragged out of his chair during the student protests, told the rally: ‘We are here to demand justice for the family of Sean Rigg.
‘To demand justice for David Emmanuel, for Kingsley Burrell, and for every family who lost someone at the hands of the police.
‘When the people of Egypt rose up and threw off the chains of Muburak, they were demanding justice.
‘In Tunisia, people demanded justice.
‘We would be very foolish to rely on any of the three political parties.
‘We have to rely on the people.
‘The police know they have no alternative but to take action.
‘The revolutionary flame is burning across North Africa to the West, to Asia.’
Sean Rigg’s sister Marcia Rigg led chants shouting: ‘No peace, No justice!
‘Who are the liars?’ to which the crowd replied ‘The police!’
She shouted: ‘Who are the murderers?’ to replies of: ‘The police’.
‘Who killed Smiley Culture?’ – ‘The police’.
‘Who killed my brother?’ – ‘The police!’
Marcia declared: ‘This is the third time I’ve been outside Scotland Yard. I’m back again!
‘Deaths in custody have to stop now.
‘The list of people who died in police custody is endless.
‘We are not taking any of this anymore.
‘We want cameras in the back of police vans – that’s where they beat people up.
‘Brixton police station I’m coming for you.’
A relative of Kingsley Burrell told Scotland Yard: ‘We are going to fight you in the courts.’
Carmen McFarlane, the aunt of Julian Webster declared: ‘This is a police state.
‘I would like to know who are the guilty up there.
‘We will not give up until we get justice for our young ones.’
Smiley Culture’s partner Asher Senator rounded up the rally with a rap.
Friend of the Emmanuel family, Manniy Lee told News Line at the rally: ‘We called this march because of the injustice we’ve been receiving.
‘We’ve been given no explanation as to why Smiley died at all.
‘We want justice for our friend. It’s been so long, so many things have happened over the past 20 to 50 years.
‘This story that is being put out unofficially that he committed suicide is ridiculous. It’s unbelievable.
‘No one supports the general public in this situation.
‘Who do we go to? The CPS is of no use to us, they support the police, as far as I’m concerned.
‘We feel very sad. I’ve lost a friend and the family have lost a son, a grandad, a brother, an uncle.
‘Smiley Culture was a great ambassador for any person trying to achieve something in life, he was so positive.
‘The police should stop the searches. You can’t just go into someone’s home because you think there is something there.’
Led by the Emmanuel Family there were banners on the march from Justice for Kingsley Burrell, Julian Webster Campaign, Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, Justice for Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah, Lambeth Unison and Lambeth Save Our Services.
The march was co-organised by the PCS union which also supplied stewards.
News Line interviewed some of the marchers as they assembled in Wandsworth Road, near Stockwell.
‘Neatly’ Locks said: ‘I’m here because I know people who died in custody.
‘I’ve got members of my family who’ve been assaulted by police. We’ve experienced the lies.
‘I experienced in when I was 16. I’m 45 now but we used to get stopped all the time.
‘Over the years, nothing’s changed. I still see police treating youngsters with disrespect – pulling them over, searching them. And they don’t want you witnessing them doing it.
‘As for Smiley’s death, no-one believes the unofficial line that he was allowed to go into the kitchen to have a cup of tea, where he allegedly stabbed himself.
‘There has been no official statement. They just try to cover things up, as in the Stockwell shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
‘Ian Tomlinson was supposed to be aggressive towards police.
‘Brian Douglas was hit across the head while backing off from police, that was according to their testimony.
‘In none of these cases were there charges.’
Charlie from Facebook group Hillz Frontline Remembered, said: ‘I’m based in Birmingham. We had a similar death to Smiley Culture in Birmingham, just a week after.
‘Kingsley Burrell died as a result of contact with the police.
‘He had called the police for assistance when he felt threatened while he was with his five year old son.
‘He was arrested by the police and taken to a mental health institution. As a result, he ended up in hospital and hours later he died.
‘We’re here today to march with Smiley Culture’s family. We are representing all the deaths in police custody, which is 500 deaths to date.
‘Not one police officer has ever been convicted.
‘It’s time all the families got justice once and for all.’
Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) NEC member Zita Holbourne told News Line: ‘It’s important to stand up for justice wherever injustice occurs.
‘The police must be held accountable for the death of Smiley Culture.
‘We’re hoping to send a strong message to the Metropolitan Police and the government that black and white people are not going to stand by and allow deaths in custody to occur without demanding answers and justice.’
Lorraine Bennett from Nottingham added: ‘The whole system seems a bit rotten at the moment, from the top all the way down.
‘It’s not just about race, it’s about class. The lower classes are being pushed further down.
‘The privileged and the government are given free rein. They seem to do what they want and people have had enough of it.
‘The police are part of the establishment – they’re the biggest gang of them all! The police seem to have power with no recourse.
‘They are allowed to work and go on with their lives when somebody has died.
‘Everybody needs to band together and not allow themselves to be divided.
‘The unions should take action. Everybody should stand up now.
‘You can’t sit at home doing nothing and watch it on the TV, you have to take action.’
Tony Clark said: ‘I used to be a fan of Smiley Culture’s music. It inspired me as a teenager growing up.
‘I want to find out how he died. I’m very angry. The police haven’t issued a statement about how his death happened. They said it was suicide.
‘It’s wrong the number of people that die in police custody. The police should be made to answer for their actions.’
Carer Beverley Smith said: ‘I work for a Day Centre which faces closure. I’m against the cuts.
‘The police feel they can get away with these things and it’s not only black people affected but everybody, all working class people.
‘The police think they can just walk over workers and youth. We’re marching because we’ve had enough. It’s got to stop now.
‘It’s down to the system, the government who’ve got it wrong to suit the rich.’
Tamara Steadman, from New Cross, also a carer, added: ‘I’m here with my family to support Merlin Emmanuel and the Emmanuel family.
‘Too many people have died in police custody and in their homes.
‘No-one believes Smiley killed himself. We have all seen the “Cops With Cameras” on the TV and know that the police don’t allow you to make a cup of tea when they come to arrest you in your home.
‘We want answers and we want them now. Over 500 deaths have been caused by the police. It’s only a uniform, it doesn’t justify them killing people.’
Hackney teacher, NUT member Juliet Bremmer added: ‘I’m a mother and class teacher, a sister and an auntie.
‘At the moment I’m blessed in not having any members of my family killed in police custody. I’m here to support those who have.’
Finance consultant Michelle Ballantyne from north London said: ‘Too many people have died in police custody and no-one has answered for their deaths.
‘I’ve got male family and a couple of them have been arrested and beaten by police but, thankfully, have not died.
‘I’m here to support the cause and hopefully stopping it happening in the future.’
Artist Naffi-I said: ‘I’m here because it’s got to stop. I have young sons and they have been beaten. I’ve had brothers who were beaten in custody.
‘It’s time it’s got to stop. There’s got to be a change. I’m here because it could have been my child. it could have been myself.’