1,000 signatures reached
To: Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Andy Marsh
Suspend the two police officers who tasered Ras Judah
Take the two police officers who tasered Ras Judah off the streets to demonstrate that you're serious about tackling taser misuse and the police’s racial bias.
The officers involved in the incident need to be suspended without pay whist we await the outcome of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into gross misconduct.
The officers involved in the incident need to be suspended without pay whist we await the outcome of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into gross misconduct.
Why is this important?
Last month our respected community elder, Ras Judah Adunbi, was tasered by two police constables while peacefully taking his dog on a Saturday morning walk through our neighbourhood (Easton, Bristol).
The police stopped Judah near his home, demanded to know his name and address and when Judah politely refused, which is within his legal rights, they tasered him in the face and wrongfully arrested him.
Judah did NOT break any laws or rules but was treated violently and with no respect. Judah felt like he was going to die and has since suffered from a number of health complications.
The incident was covered my media outlets across the Globe, including Washington Post, New York Times, CNN and BBC World News. Avon and Somerset Police dropped the charges a couple of days later and are now being investigated by IPCC.
** Ras Judah wants everyone in the community to LEARN their legal rights! If a police officer stops you and starts to ask you questions you DO NOT have to stop or answer any questions. That’s the law. The Police should stick to it. **
Key facts:
- There have been at least 17 taser-related deaths in Britain since 2003, including the death of Dalian Atkinson, the former Aston Villa footballer, who died after being Tasered by police officers in August 2016.
- People of African descent are three times more likely to be tasered and six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.
- According to government figures, use of Tasers has grown over recent years, with 1,921 Taser discharges recorded by police in England and Wales in 2015.
- Judah was taken to the Bristol Royal infirmary in a Police car with the Taser still dangling from his face. After being discharged later that morning he spent 10 hours at Patchway police station (Bristol). He was allowed to leave just before midnight and had to make his own way home.
- On Monday 23rd Jan, Bristol's police federation chairman said the police officers involved were 'doing what the public expect of them'.
The police stopped Judah near his home, demanded to know his name and address and when Judah politely refused, which is within his legal rights, they tasered him in the face and wrongfully arrested him.
Judah did NOT break any laws or rules but was treated violently and with no respect. Judah felt like he was going to die and has since suffered from a number of health complications.
The incident was covered my media outlets across the Globe, including Washington Post, New York Times, CNN and BBC World News. Avon and Somerset Police dropped the charges a couple of days later and are now being investigated by IPCC.
** Ras Judah wants everyone in the community to LEARN their legal rights! If a police officer stops you and starts to ask you questions you DO NOT have to stop or answer any questions. That’s the law. The Police should stick to it. **
Key facts:
- There have been at least 17 taser-related deaths in Britain since 2003, including the death of Dalian Atkinson, the former Aston Villa footballer, who died after being Tasered by police officers in August 2016.
- People of African descent are three times more likely to be tasered and six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.
- According to government figures, use of Tasers has grown over recent years, with 1,921 Taser discharges recorded by police in England and Wales in 2015.
- Judah was taken to the Bristol Royal infirmary in a Police car with the Taser still dangling from his face. After being discharged later that morning he spent 10 hours at Patchway police station (Bristol). He was allowed to leave just before midnight and had to make his own way home.
- On Monday 23rd Jan, Bristol's police federation chairman said the police officers involved were 'doing what the public expect of them'.
How it will be delivered
Hard copies will be at the Malcolm X Centre and other community spaces.
