Brixton riot (1985)
Encyclopedia
The Brixton riot of 1985 started on 28 September in Lambeth
in South London
.
It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years.
It was sparked by the shooting of Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce by police, while they sought her son Michael Groce
in relation to a suspected firearms offence - they believed Michael Groce was hiding in his mother's home.
It is reported that the police did not give the required warning (which alerts residents to the fact that a raid is about to proceed), and Mrs. Groce was in bed when the police began their search.
Michael Groce was not there at the time of the shooting, and Mrs. Groce was paralysed below the waist by the police bullet.
Mrs. Groce had migrated to Britain from Jamaica
in her youth, and the incident was immediately perceived by many local residents as further evidence of what was widely regarded as institutional racism
in the Metropolitan Police
.
As word of the shooting spread through the community, rumours persisted that Mrs. Groce had in fact been killed in the shooting, and a large group of protesters gathered at the local police station chanting anti-police slogans and demanding disciplinary action against the officers involved. However, hostility between the largely black crowd and the largely white police force quickly escalated into a series of street battles.
The police lost control of the area for approximately 48 hours during which several shops were looted and fires started, leaving at least one building and dozens of cars destroyed. One photo-journalist, David Hodge, died a few days later as a result of head injuries he received from a gang of looters whom he was trying to photograph and dozens of arrests were made.
One week later, another serious conflict, sparked by similar circumstances, broke out between the Metropolitan Police and mainly black residents of North London's Tottenham
district in what became known as the Broadwater Farm riot
.
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
.
It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years.
It was sparked by the shooting of Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce by police, while they sought her son Michael Groce
Michael Groce
Michael Groce is a poet, community worker and former criminal. His name is remembered by many in connection with the Brixton riots of 1985 when his mother, Cherry Groce, was shot by police during a dawn raid on her home...
in relation to a suspected firearms offence - they believed Michael Groce was hiding in his mother's home.
It is reported that the police did not give the required warning (which alerts residents to the fact that a raid is about to proceed), and Mrs. Groce was in bed when the police began their search.
Michael Groce was not there at the time of the shooting, and Mrs. Groce was paralysed below the waist by the police bullet.
Mrs. Groce had migrated to Britain from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in her youth, and the incident was immediately perceived by many local residents as further evidence of what was widely regarded as institutional racism
Institutional racism
Institutional racism describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations , and universities . The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s...
in the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
.
As word of the shooting spread through the community, rumours persisted that Mrs. Groce had in fact been killed in the shooting, and a large group of protesters gathered at the local police station chanting anti-police slogans and demanding disciplinary action against the officers involved. However, hostility between the largely black crowd and the largely white police force quickly escalated into a series of street battles.
The police lost control of the area for approximately 48 hours during which several shops were looted and fires started, leaving at least one building and dozens of cars destroyed. One photo-journalist, David Hodge, died a few days later as a result of head injuries he received from a gang of looters whom he was trying to photograph and dozens of arrests were made.
Aftermath
The police officer who shot Mrs. Groce, Inspector Douglas Lovelock, was prosecuted but eventually acquitted of malicious wounding. Mrs. Groce received compensation from the Metropolitan Police.One week later, another serious conflict, sparked by similar circumstances, broke out between the Metropolitan Police and mainly black residents of North London's Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
district in what became known as the Broadwater Farm riot
Broadwater Farm riot
The Broadwater Farm riot occurred around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham, North London, on 6 October 1985.The events of the day were dominated by two deaths. The first was that of Cynthia Jarrett, an African-Caribbean woman who died the previous day from a stroke during a police search of her...
.
Cultural references
- Stephen FrearsStephen FrearsStephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
' 19871987 in film-Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records....
film Sammy and Rosie Get LaidSammy and Rosie Get LaidSammy and Rosie Get Laid is a film directed by Stephen Frears, with a screenplay by Hanif Kureishi; features Fine Young Cannibals singer Roland Gift in one of his earliest screen appearances.-Plot synopsis:...
opens with an incident very similar to the Groce shooting.
See also
- Brixton riot (1981)
- Brixton riot (1995)Brixton riot (1995)The Brixton riots of 1995 began on 13 December after the death of 26-year-old Wayne Douglas, in police custody. Douglas had a criminal history of robbery, assault, and theft. Just prior to his arrest he had broken into a the abode of a couple and robbed them at knifepoint just hours earlier...
- Broadwater Farm riotBroadwater Farm riotThe Broadwater Farm riot occurred around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham, North London, on 6 October 1985.The events of the day were dominated by two deaths. The first was that of Cynthia Jarrett, an African-Caribbean woman who died the previous day from a stroke during a police search of her...
- Eleanor BumpursEleanor BumpursEleanor Bumpurs was an African-American woman who was shot dead on October 29, 1984, by police officers called to assist her city-ordered eviction from her apartment in the Bronx. The New York City Housing Authority was evicting her because she was four months behind in her rent of $96.85 per month...
- The Guns of BrixtonThe Guns of Brixton"The Guns of Brixton" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London...
- Urban riotsUrban riotsRiots often occur in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. Riots may be the outcome of a sporting event, although many riots have occurred due to poor working or living conditions, government oppression, conflicts between races or religions....
External links
- BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
- 'My mum got caught in the crossfire' - BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
- 1985: Riots in Brixton after police shooting - BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
- 1987: Officer cleared in Groce shooting case - Guardian Archives: Riots in Brixton After Police Shooting