Stranger performs life-saving CPR, accusations against British soldiers & and more stories from Black, Asian and Arab Communities you shouldn't miss curated by Melissa Sigodo
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There’s a lot to catch you up on as usual but firstly, I just want to say thank you for subscribing. Some of you even believe the work I’m doing is worth paying for which really blew me away, so a BIG THANK YOU for your pledges.
Just a few bits to mention.
I will be on BBC Context again this evening at 9pm discussing election news, so tune in if you can.
Also, tomorrow is Windrush Day and I’ll be on Colourful Radio to talk about the contributions of Caribbean who answered to call to come and help post-war Britain.
Without further ado, I've cut through the noise so you don't have to.
Heroes
A stranger who performed life-saving CPR on a man shot five times in the chest after following a trail of blood has finally reunited with him after 17 years. Sinclair Jeffrey who had only learned CPR and first aid three weeks prior is calling for it to be made mandatory in schools. Full story.
Sport
Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell died at the age of 54 after a short illness. Many paid emotional tributes to him including the North London club which said he was ‘adored by everyone.’ Full story.
Entertainment
Journalist and Mastermind presenter Clive Myrie revealed that he had been sent racial abuse including excrement, death threats describing the kind of bullet that would be used to kill him and cards with gorillas on them, since becoming more ‘visible’ as a presenter which left him “shaken.” Full story.
Legal
British soldiers have been accused of rape and fathering the children of Kenyan women while training in the East African country. The women are now working to bring their cases to court after claims of rape by 2,187 women were dismissed in 2007. DNA tests were not conducted for 69 mixed-race kids allegedly born of rape. Full story.
Trigger warning: A woman has won her case against a man whom she accused of raping her during a therapy session where he claimed to used sexual penetration as a ‘legitimate therapy technique.’ Ella Janneh has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages after winning a civil case. The CPS had previously decided not to press charges.
Arts and Culture
Naomi Campbell is having an exhibition dedicated to her at the V&A Museum looking back at her career through key looks, influence & activism curated by former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful. It opens to the public this Saturday, June 22. Full story.
Policing
A bus driver who became homeless after losing his job and not being able to afford rent on his pension is now ‘in line for compensation’ for wrongful arrest by Metropolitan Police after refusing to leave the tent he had been sleeping in for eight months which was later thrown into a rubbish lorry by Camden council workers. Full story.
The four detectives involved in the case of Stephen Lawrence’s racist murder which a report stated was ‘marred by institutional racism and a failure of leadership’ will not face criminal charges, the CPS has concluded citing ‘insufficient evidence.’ Full story. Stephen Lawrence’s mother Doreen Lawrence said she was angered by the decision labelling it a “new low.” Full story.
The National Black Police Association has withdrawn its support of the chief constables’ Race Action Plan to end discrimination in police forces instead accusing police leaders of “breaking years of promises of reform and allowing a toxic environment to destroy or blight the careers of black and Asian officers.” Full story.
A Police officer who put his hands on the neck of a 16-year-old girl who 'complained of being choked' while she was detained in the back of a police car says he 'did not believe he was hurting her.' Jurors heard how the victim had previously assaulted an emergency worker during the trial. PC Markowski was found not guilty of strangulation. Full story.
Health
Health experts have warned that Black, Asian and minority ethnic women are struggling to get proper care due to gaps in menopause research. GP and edcuator Dr Sesay Aziza said, “We have so many nuances that exist within our communities. There’s a lot of shame. There’s a lot of stigma, a lot of taboo and embarrassment” and that there needs to be awareness in communities. Full story.
Politics
A Reform party candidate Lee Bunker who wrote when will they “be deporting Diane Abbott, I hope they hurry up” in response to a X (Twitter) post about immigration has been defended by his party which said ‘we are proud that they speak like ordinary people.’ Full story.
The Reform party has defended their candidate for Hitchin, Charles Bunker who has described himself as a “proud Islamophobe” and in October 2023, accused Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, of “leading an Islamification process where Muslims do what they like on our street but if you are native Britain [sic] and White you get arrested and carted off for a minor infraction”. Full story.
Windrush
The decision by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman to get rid of key Windrush pledges in order to prevent the scandal from happening again was unlawful, the High Court has ruled after Windrush scandal victim Trevor Donald who was denied re-entry to the UK for 9 years took the Home Office to court. Full story.
Housing
Residents have been waiting 20 years to return to their homes after being moved out for ‘regeneration plans’ in Stratford, London. Meanwhile, 400 flats sit empty in their building as Newham council says it will take another 15 years to complete. Full story.
World News
French football captain Kylian Mbappé has urged people to vote against extremes in the upcoming French election following the rise of the far-right in Europe. Speaking at a press conference he said, “I want to be proud to represent France, I don’t want to represent a country that doesn’t correspond to my values, or our values. Full story.
A 97-year-old woman, Opal Lee who campaigned to make Juneteenth a national holiday was given the keys to a new home on the same street that her family was driven from by a racist mob when she was 12. Full story.
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