Racist attack on 9yo girl, British soldier arrest warrant issued by Kenyan court & other stories from Black, Asian and Arab communities you shouldn't have missed this week - curated by Melissa Sigodo

Having a voice in a climate of censorship

Good morning, afternoon or evening,

Thank you for subscribing to The Source.

The Source Podcast is back! Yes, this short podcast/voice note/audio is simply my take and opinions on some of the stories that you shouldn’t have missed this week. As we see the climate of censorship growing, I thought now would be a good time to bring back the podcast. And rather than simply recapping and reporting, I could also share my own thoughts on the news on my own independent platform which is backed by readers rather than billionaires - definitely one of the benefits.

In this returning episode, I talk about the racist attack on a nine-year-old girl, the far-right rally last weekend, the policing of that rally, the public’s feelings on ‘two-tier’ policing and the censorship we’re seeing in the US.

Let me know how you find it, if you want me to do a weekly one or any suggestions you have on how I could make it better.

*In the podcast, I called it the Unite the Rally protest, I meant Unite the Kingdom*

This week, I visited the House of Commons which is where our politicians and the government convene to discuss, debate and decide on legislation over here in the UK. The purpose of my visit was to discuss the Windrush scandal and how it continues to affect so many eight years since it was exposed.

The event was hosted by Windrush scandal survivor Roland Houslin and on the panel, we had Garrick Prayogg, MP Helen Hayes Dulwich and West Norwood who showed up briefly, Nina Kamp from Duncan Lewis Solicitors Public law and Immigration, ARE Action For Race Equality and WJC Windrush Justice Clinic.

Without further ado, here are the stories you shouldn’t have missed this week.

---

News

An arrest warrant has been issued for a British national over the killing of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in 2012 in Kenya. Her body was found in a septic tank of a hotel. Read the full story by Akisa Wandera at BBC.

The British former soldier accused of killing Agnes has been named as Robert James Purkiss. Read the full story by David Collins at The Sunday Times. (Mind the paywall).

Health

A report by UK MPs has found that Black women face poor maternity care due their concerns not being taken seriously as a result of bias, stereotyping and racist assumptions. Read the full story by Tobi Thomas at The Guardian.

---

The family of a baby who suffered a severe brain injury after his delivery was delayed say they do not believe an inquiry which will include the hospital where their son was born will deliver the answers they need. The family has launched a GoFundMe for their child who now needs 24-hour care. Read the full story by Michael Broomhead at Asian Image.

Crime

26 officers were injured at the rally led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson which saw over 100,000 participants. The demonstration saw far right speakers in attendance including French politician Éric Zemmour who told protesters they were being colonised. Read the full story by Robyn Vinter, Sammy Gecsoyler, Helen Pidd and Aneesa Ahmed at The Guardian.

---

Police are investigating a racially aggravated assault after a nine-year-old girl who was shot with an air gun in Bristol. Police say a racial comment was used during the incident and the girl says she is now ‘too frightened’ to leave the house. Read the full story by By Declan O'Reilly at North Somerset Times.

---

An investigation has been launched after graffiti which included the N-word was found on the walls of Charring Cross Police station in an area that can only be accessed by staff. A source told The Guardian it was more than likely someone who worked for the Metropolitan police. Read the full story by Vikram Dodd at The Guardian.

Policing

A Metropolitan Police officer who left a man paralysed when he fell after being Tasered while attempting to run away has been cleared of gross misconduct. The panel accepted that PC Mahmood ‘held the belief Mr Walker-Brown posed an immediate threat to his safety and his colleagues safety.’ Read the full story by Poppy Huggett at The Tottenham and Wood Green Independent.

---

Live facial recognition technology was not used at the rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson where 26 officers were injured because there was ‘no intelligence basis for it’, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley has said. Read the full story by Harry Low at BBC.

Windrush Scandal

The Home Office has apologised after an ombudsman found that it ‘insensitively’ handled a dying mum’s Windrush scandal compensation claim and failed to properly compensate her husband. Caroline Tobierre died before getting funds to pay for her funeral costs. Read the full story by Melissa Sigodo for The Source.