Was it fifty-nine homes that were raided last year in order to produce the famous ‘Lewisham 24’ charged with conspiracy; in order to produce the nineteen who are being tried now, and to secure their convictions? Six of them were convicted last week; four are now in prison, two are serving suspended sentences. ‘Conspiracy’ and ‘affray’ charges were also used following ‘Carnival 1976’ to produce the ‘Islington 18’, a case which was well fought (better fought than the ‘Lewisham 24’), where all the accused got off. There is another such case going on at the moment in London. It’s the ‘Kensal Rise 10’ or ‘11’!
Cecil Gutzmore
Colin Prescod - Black People Against State Harassment (BASH) campaign – a report [Institute of Race Relations, Vol. 58(1) 94–100]