Smiley Culture: march for justice

Tomorrow thousands of people are expected to march through the streets of London to New Scotland Yard as part of the campaign for justice for Smiley Culture and others who died in police custody.

Smiley Culture (real name David Emmanuel) died of a single stab wound to the heart in the presence of 4 police officers at his home on 15th March. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has started an inquiry into his death.

Today the family of David Emmanuel held a private funeral for the musician; a public memorial is due to be held at a later date.

The Justice for Smiley Culture campaign organised tomorrows march to raise the issue directly with the police about deaths in police custody, the campaign has since widened to include the campaign over the death of Kingsley Brown, from Birmingham, who died in hospital last month after calling police for help and the Ian Tomlinson campaign. Tomlinson was a newspaper vendor who died after being struck by police while making his way home during the G20 protest in 2008.

The march will convene at 12 noon in Southbank Club, 124 -130 Wandsworth Road and will precede New Scotland Yard where a rally will be held. The organisers have requested that those in attendance respect the family’s wishes and stay composed to not give the media ammunition to undermine the campaign.

To find out more about the campaign log on to their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for live updates (the hastags for the march is #april16th). Details of the march can be found here.