Defend the Newham 7 | Socialist Action 1983

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Today it is the Newham Seven, tomorrow it could be you THE CONTRAST between the LPYS conference in Ak KEVIN DAVIES was one of the 15 miners who atplace in Newham, with affray for daring to defend themselves.

On Saturday 17 April disabled l6 year old Asian Newham youth was dragged into a car and assaulted with hammer by white racist thugs The thugs then turned on a family out shopping, an apprentice an Asian woman beat them up too. Later that day, leaving the Duke of Edinburgh Public House 20 of these racists, wielding among olde things garden implements, attacked black youth.

The police arrived on the scene and proceeded to arrest one of the victims of une allack Six more Asian youths rounded Welc along with three white youths. But five of the black youths arrested, inEast London. The police have colluded in these attacks by failing to arrest those responsible and instead charging seven black youth itially on charges of posessing offensive weapons criminal damage, were remanded in custody for 7 weeks on the flimsy excuse police were busy preparing their case No such treatment was meted COUL the white youths who were Im mediately released on bail. None of the youths in the car on 7 April have yet been arrested by the police Police behaviour this incident follows the pattern that the black and Asian community Newham has come to expect.

In the case of the Virk brothers in Newham 1978 te muraer or All Daig 1980 and the arrest of the Newham 1982 the police also turned on the victims of racist violence rather than the perpetrat ors of these outrages.

But the Asian com munity not accep this behaviour. The Newham 7 Defence Cam paign is calling a Nationa demonstration to mois attack and othe at other such attacks on black and Asian people's right to live of intimidation and assault by racists As the Newham Seven leaflet says: 'By • chargins three racists the state is attempting to present the Newham Seven incident as one of 'gang warfare attempt must be resisted.

cannot tolerate one single attack by racist thugs on our people will defend ourselves if the ICCU anises Yesterday in was the Newham Eight. Today it is the Newham Seven, tomorrow it could be you.'