7 Days 2 2 December 1971

The Mangrove Trial is over with Five acquitted and Four on suspended sentences

ANTHONY CARLYLE INNESS RHODAN GORDON ALTHEA JONES-LECOINTE Acquitted of Riot, Affray, GBH, possessing an offensive weapon. Acquitted of Riot. Guilty of Affray. Sentence: fifteen months Acquitted of Riot, Causing Actual Bodily Harm, Possessing an Guilty of causing actual bodily harm. Sentence: nine months suspended for two years Offensive Weapon. Guilty of Affray, Causing Actual Bodily Harm. suspended for two years Sentence: 15 months suspended for 2 years

FRANK CRITCHLOW RUPERT GLASGOW BOYCE ROTHWELL WESLEY KENTISH Acquitted of riot, affray, possessing an offensive weapon Acquitted of Riot, Affray, GBH. Guilty of Causing Actual Bodily Acquitted of Riot, Affray, Possessing an Offensive Weapon Harm, Possessing an Offensive Weapon. Sentence: 9 months suspended for two years

BARBARA BEESE GODFREY MILLETTE RADFORD LEIGHTON HOWE Acquitted of Riot, Affray, Assault, Possessing an offensive weapon Acquitted of Riot and Affray Acquitted of Riot and Affray

Now 7 Days talks to members of the Nine about

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7 Days 22 December 1971 7 Days 22 December 1971 BLACKS IN BRITAIN TODAY

E'VE BEEN subjected in this trial to spectacles of naked Photographs of the Mangrove Nine — Tom Picton/7 Days judicial tyranny. The judge has given the defence some ‘W latitude, but the only alternative was to send them down or non-lawyer, is that lawyers accept a on our backs. We said “oh yes”. to gag them like Bobby Seale. Our legal system relies on people certain code of behaviour. There are When I go to the Old Bailey to defend myself, I see exactly the class But he could be replaced by any accepting the roles they are allotted, but in this case, people have said innumerable deals that they seek to make with each other over the relation between myself and the ruling number of judges . . . no. We don't accept absolute power anywhere. We went to war with heads of the defendants, to see that the class; I see that relation very clearly. Germany against this; we're not in Russia, not in the United States, system continues to function. The They are sitting on my back. I get up to Oh yes. When I talk about Clark I don’t why tolerate it in the Old Bailey? Whatever verdict you return, that is a whole attempt by judge and counsel to ask a question that has some intelligence talk about him in isolation. By and large truth that will echo through the Old Bailey long after we have left." mystify everybody about the profound and creativity and they run from it like Clark is typically ruling class. A bit things that they are going through is all the plague. I asked a police officer hamfisted, but nevertheless ruling class. These stirring words came from Ian MacDonald, a defence counsel, hogwash. They have no understanding about his understanding of the Grove They have a striking familiarity. You who was addressing the jury during the closing stages of the £70,000 of life. and the situation in which black people see, when we talk about the ruling class, judicial spectacular at the Old Bailey, the trial of the Mangrove Nine. I think Justice comes to life only live. “That is inadmissible”. They admit we tend to blanket them all. I look at The defendants, seven men and two women, were all black and with people. Otherwise it is a whole lot some kind of fuckbrained police officer British society, I am not part of it — I am just here, I don’t feel emotionally militant, and they faced a total of 31 charges. These had been slammed of words in books. You find that these who comes to say that he was in court judges, lawyers, counsels and all that, and he saw Miss Beese taking notes and charged if Parliament burns down, or if on them after last year's demonstration against police harrassment of are representing a degenerate Mrs Lecointe come to see her husband the Queen is dead, or even if some the blacks in Notting Hill. state. And the state of Britain is — they admit that shit. But when we radical revolutionary is dead. If in Frank Critchlow, one of the men in the dock, owned the Mangrove particularly degenerate now. Look at wanted to bring truth into the Law at Trinidad, they kill a revolutionary, then Restaurant, the starting point of the demonstration. It had been raided Alec Douglas Home and the Rhodesian the Old Bailey, we are not permitted. If I’m emotionally charged. But by and large in Britain we stand outside and we three times by police, who said they were looking for drugs. situation. Total failure of the British you ask a question and the judge says no, they have a prison officer to slam look in. All nine were acquitted of riot. The basis of this charge, said the state to assist the lives of five million people. The total failure to bring any you down the stairs. It is as naked and Now, when I first came here, the prosecution was that the outbreak of violence had been deliberately justice into industry, work relationships, immediate as that. He’s got a heavy mob ruling class used to be people like Alec planned. The case was brought in an attempt to crush the black into the lives of women, of children, of behind him and it is a very close Douglas Home, that kind of aristocracy. movement by attacking its supposed leaders. Radford Howe said, black people. relationship between prison officer and But there has been a revolution in the "They believe that by raising this charge they could silence people in Lawyers talk about objectivity and the judge, and the police and the judge. Conservative Party, you have a new type of ruling class, you have Heath and his the black community from raising the question of police brutality." they are the worst practitioners of I could have read Lenin’s State and objectivity that you could find. They Revolution from now till kingdom capitalist heavies. You have John Davies Five defendants were acquitted altogether. Four got suspended are full of all kinds of vulgar emotions, come, I would never have been able to from CBI, or Barber who has no politics sentences — only two of these were convicted of affray. all kinds of nationalistic traits. understand the nature of the state and but is a hatchet man for the capitalists. But the acquittals on 25 of 31 charges are a victory for the defence. Everything that is vulgar and its class relationships in the way that I When you look at the judiciary, people The eleven week trial became a focal point for the black movement degenerate, reproduces itself in the have through nine weeks of the Old like Clark belong to the new kind of ruling class. You see, things form the in Britain. Judith McFadzean Ferguson went to talk to Radford Howe British court. Today, I don’t respect any Bailey., of them, I don’t respect anything they Black people know what is going on dialectic, they break up, they form and Rothwell Kentish about the context in which the case had been have to say, all I see is that they are at the Old Bailey, because they have to again. People like Alec Douglas Home, set: the position of black people in modern Britain. people who exercise naked power. And go to the National Assistance, they have they really look down on Edward Heath for the time being, history has placed to look for a flat and they know what is when he goes to conduct whatever Darkus Howe: me in their grasp — they can send me to going on in life and society generally. So nonesense he is conducting — he is a "N OTTING HILL has a history of people talking at meetings, about prison, and take away the little who are they fooling? Just some white vulgar man so far as the old ruling i t s own, peculiar and unique capitalism, about American imperialism. bourgeois liberty that I have. people. “We are giving you latitude”, class is concerned. But he’s got power. I didn’t learn that in Britain. Certain So you have a new variation of the same among black communities across that’s the Judge’s favourite word. He experiences and sharp conflicts in says it because he wants to fool some class. In the same way as you have a the country, because in 1958 it Britain brought these things to the fore Naked Power white liberals who he knows could make new proletariat. The proletariat doesn’t had a race riot. That race riot was once more. We didn’t learn the struggle There you see state power, its a scream, because liberals scream more remain cloth capped, white and over 30. an attack on black people by here. We’ve been struggling against the strengths and its weaknesses. Its than anybody else. He is gearing that to it changes as history moves. And you white people. In response, black same state in its colonial form and we strength is purely physical and naked: a them. have black people in this country. broke the back of colonialism in the prison officer slams me down the stairs, The Original Demonstration. people organised themselves to West Indies. the judge shouts at me. And then on the The New Men Judge Clark population is not yet ready. I’m afraid resist. The Notting Hill black other hand you see its defects the most We knew Judge Clark long before the Alec Douglas Home, they are the to contribute to British society. And I’m not blaming any stupid little There is also the attitude of the or they played truant. They know his that by and large he is right. Provided it has a new set of labour community was born. Are you a member of any organisation contemptible lot of people that I have Mangrove case. A young man named people we have been dealing with for ignorant white worker who takes out his population as a whole. I resented it very name, they know his address, so We will have a tightening of the relations. They have to be a new set of Its existence changed the entire social now? ever met. If those people who practise David, was attacked by some South 400 years. His type were the colonial frustrations from his employer on black much. I used to see the police meet anytime anything happens, they say it’s relationships in Notting Hill Gate. When as barristers had to live the lives of African whites in Earls Court; they governors. And we defeated them screws and severe oppression in the production relations, they have to be a people. If he does it physically he is people here and twelve of them stand Johnny from number 14. It’s a whole a community is born, that community ordinary black people, their level of stabbed him almost to death. He got miserably. They were the most country. The working class will then new set of political relations in order for going to be dealt with, that is all. He up and burst somebody’s head. And a process. Since the case, I have thrown my lot have to break up the Labour Party our contribution to really be made. We begins to create institutions of its own with the Black Panther movement. understanding is so low that they would hold of a knife and he stabbed his way ineffectual people, they couldn’t even will be made another victim of black whole crowd would be standing round in order to satisfy its needs. Out of that starve. I could pick out any 200 out of it as best he could. He ended up colonise properly. But now you have a because it will prevent them from are going to make our contribution in a hostility. But the responsibility for all looking on, you know. And we couldn’t Do you think that the younger kids are Before the case, no I wasn’t. By and waging the kind of struggle that is deep sense of community, born in young people who are superior human in hospital, spent three weeks in there. modern, European class of politician in new Britain. that rests with the government of this even get them to come to court. That more militant, more agressive because large all of us are politically aware of necessary. Just simply to survive, they struggle, emerged the Mangrove beings to them, not on the basis of race The police charged all of them South Britain who is after profit and Roddy: There is the question of country. was the attitude that I really resented. the situation has become clearer? the significance of the case. That is why will have to breakup thoseorganisations. economic struggle and the question of restaurant. This is not to say that Frank “the nine” exists, as opposed to nine but on the basis of a quality of life and African and Rhodesian whites and maintaining capitalism, whether it be R oddy: Then there is the superiority Many times I used to feel definitely Critchlow was conscious that he was state capitalism or private capitalism. And then they will have to move on to history. complex which emerges after slavery. hopeless, because there was nobody Yes, much more suspicious and more individuals. socialism. If they fall back Fascism will The people of England are caught up forming a community restaurant, but The majority of the black population You have a new class of judges now to They say “here are a group of poor you could stretch your hands out to. I resentful of the police. The Metro case because of the history of Notting Hill go with them. So our strategy in dominate. Heath is under no illusions in their past, in allegiance to institutions people living in mud huts in the West couldn’t say how much they were is a good example. There was some boys in this country are aware that they are about the battle he is fighting. And he like the courts or Trade Unions. They Gate, the Mangrove could be nothing fighting them must change. They are Indies, uncivilised, unkempt, uncouth.” scared or how much they didn’t care. outside playing rough, this policeman involved in the sharpest political has Feather — a nice feather bed — to lie hold onto them because it is the English else but what it is: a community very impoverished in terms of They said “poor little blackies coming came up and said break it up. He gets situation — in housing, immigration, down on the working class. They will Law and the English way of life — it restaurant. That’s the answer to the imagination. up here.” They say “look you must The Significance of Our Case into the middle of them and takes hold with the police. Our presence here is have to deal with Feather, they will becomes an extreme form of question — Why don’t people In that courthouse there is another obey English Law, dress like Englishmen There is no desire to live in an of one of the boys who shakes him off unique to British society. Everybody in have to get up and say we don’t want no nationalism that keeps down the people. demonstrate for a Wimpy bar, or parallel to be drawn. One sees very — wear a bowler hat and carry an unracist society. A lot of people read and goes inside the club. He takes that this country knows that British society Trade Unions and Labour Party. They But really the question is the Trade ordinary restaurants that the police clearly that there is going to be a class umbrella” the accounts of the Mangrove Nine and stupid little radio that creates more will have to change because of what will have to begin to create their own Unions. Peoples’ attitudes and values confrontation in this country. Not trouble and whispers into it. The next close down for one reason or another. black people are going to say, and what organisation. remain “employer and employee”, see it as a very significant case, but People demonstrated for the Mangrove, black people are going to do. This called by the working class but called by "Proper English" unless it actually changes something in thing 15 police cars come, then they that new ruling class which Clark rather than thinking about the purpose A while ago they were saying “the because the Mangrove was part and society cannot continue to function in of the things they produce. We have the black community as a whole - then phone up the Special squad and the parcel of the historical development of the way it did prior to our existence represents. They are prepared and ready Are you prepared to work with white reason you’re not given proper jobs is any significance will have been lost. boys barricade the club doors. to confront, naked and vicious. There is people in left politics? been invited to many Trade Union that you don’t speak proper English”. black people in Notting Hill. here. It cannot do it, and we won’t meetings and you cannot get the level of Tonight maybe four or five people nothing about British democracy or That was fifteen years ago. Today you are getting arrested — pub, smoke, come Hating Whites allow it. The white people in left politics are not discussion away from “how much do I The Resistance English liberalism, or generosity of any see boys like the witness in the dock, here give me a search, you know. You What frightens me is that my people in any position to resolve the problems. get for producing that car.” You are conducting your own defence. kind. They want to wipe away all that. who are real cockneys. If he went back take up the phone; “look I want to themselves, many of them are becoming The resistance in Notting Hill threw They have not made any inroads into What methods do you think are the All the fineries of British democracy are to the West Indies, he wouldn’t be make a complaint to Scotland Yard.” up one of the most powerful West working class struggle. It is the white The Question of Race so resentful of white people. I don’t most effective and which other people over, with this class, I’m positive about understood. They would say “Man, why Two days later they send two men from Indian Organisations that has ever people who are not in left politics, who Darcus: I have been here for ten years think they hate them, if they hated it. Nobody is going to have it easy, and do you speak like that?” The problem Chelsea police station — Pulley’s been realised in Britain; the West Indian should learn from? are not in any politics at all who are in a and never once have I heard anybody in them they would pack up and go home. nobody’s going to concede anything, of not speaking English is no longer division. Next time why shouldn’t the Standing Conference, now a liberal position to do something. Most of them the government give a clear, positive The only way I am able to relate with Uppermost in my mind as I have been least of all Edward Heath. From our applicable, yet we still have trouble people wait for him and take a machine organisation. Subsequently, it has are landlocked in Trade Unions and in indication on the question of race. They youths — I’m up at the garage and a few defending myself is that I come from a experience in this case, the fight is on. getting proper jobs. gun and spray his car? But in this thrown up one of the most powerful the Labour Party. The left has not have brought a million people from youths come round and say “I’m broke community and that my responsibility And it has to be fought to its logical The black man is fighting capitalism country, oh no, we the British do it resistances to the state, in the Old visibly been able to shake their different parts of the world into this Roddy”. I say “I’ve got a job, want to is to that community. My whole conclusions this time. We can’t stop, as and racism. He is fighting two battles. methodically, take it to the court, take Bailey, that has ever been recorded in allegiance to these outmoded forms of population. They have told the people help me do it?” And then we get hungry attitude to witnesses and to the police, the old working class did, with the My belief is that the attitude that will it to the Home Secretary, take it to the Britain. All this is rooted in the past of organisation. But they are the people with whom they have to live, nothing. and go and buy some meat and spuds my whole method of cross-examination, Labour Party. remove racism will remove capitalism. International Court. And then after 20 Notting Hill. one looks to, to deal finally with the They have given them no indication and go home and cook it. Then we have is derived from the need to act There’s an atmosphere of conflict in Don’t help us fight racialism. You start or 30 years it might become a little questions we face. Whether they will or as to why we are here, what are the a smoke and a discussion. That is the responsibly to those people whom Darkus Howe Roddv Kentish the court; nobody seeks to reconcile the living an unracialist life. better. People are not prepared to let Learning to Resist not, I don’t know. What I know is that historical relationships between Britain kind of situation they relate to. If you history has placed me in a position to irreconcilable. Not even the judge. their lives be wasted like that. It’s no Another point: We didn’t learn to we black people will continue to and the rest of the world from which we go down to the Metro Club and start to represent. Myself as an individual is a a certain sophistication and creative David with affray. There were five of Can you give us some concrete examples use having an investigation. All the resist state repression in Britain. I find it struggle against the state. have come. So people believe that this is preach politics, they say, “man you ability. them. Four of the white ones went back Heath Heightens the Struggle of the black struggle in Notting Hill police will do is to tighten up so that a very surprising that people are surprised small part of it. something that has been forced on come down here and spoil things. These lawyers sit on the creativity of to Rhodesia, one remained. So there The old way in which the class apart from the Mangrove case? scandal won’t come out so quick. at the manner in which we have resisted them, not by the government but by What’s you?” If you do have any The Chicanery of Justice the mass of people that rest below. That were only two people charged with conflicts used to be fought, there used Then there’s the kids. Everyday you in the court and in Notting Hill. We are New Britain us. They have done it, They have influence in a West Indian community is the explosion of our time. We are not affray, a black boy and a white boy. He to be a bit of generosity on both sides. Well, in schools teachers think West see a policewoman going down the all from colonial territories. The British In terms of strategy, my whole Lenin used to say that you could act brought a million people into this it’s certainly not because you are a talking about decent housing — that is sentenced them both to a year in prison. There will be no more of that. Heath Indian kids are stupid, but often it is streets. “Hello Mrs. .. , how’s Johnny? public is very ignorant of the struggles strategy in defending myself is to call a as a stimulant to the mass of the country. They have told the ordinary preacher. The ruling class always see not a problem, this society would solve You should have seen the photographs comes in, and confronts the working just communication. West Indians call a is he still coming home?” she goes to we waged there. When I came to Britain I spade a spade. To carry into the court, proletariat who appear to be sleeping. working people absolutely nothing. And people in terms of “people” and our housing problems overnight. It can of the black guy, who was beaten so class immediately with the Industrial tap, a pipe — because that’s what they the next door “hello Mrs. ..., how ’s had already been in a political the same resistance which the Well his words will either be borne out they allow all the racial myths and “leaders of people”. We believe that community demonstrated on August 9, afford it, it can afford decent education, badly. Judge Clark gave him a year for are in West Indian homes. A communal organisation that was able to mobilise Relations Bill, and Africa almost or not. But what we have to do and prejudices which their ancestors created Doris, is she still behaving herself? no-one must lead people. Barbara Castle it can afford every single thing we need. affray. water pipe for several people. It’s a 100 000 people in the streets in to be intelligent, to be reasonable but at immediately with a settlement in what we have decided to do is to to run riot. They have given no clear Good, yes.” She does that all over the said “We the politicians and you the What prevents us from getting it? That So when we knew it was Clark, vocabulary that’s still used. Most of the Trinidad. That was 1956. I was 13 then, all costs to resist, and to be seen to Rhodesia. He moves sharply to the right continue to wage struggle, to continue street like the postman. The result is mass of inefficient degenerate bureau­ everyone round the Grove said “Is he policy to schools, they have given no kids answer the questions quite right, people”. Apparently she means that fully aware, fully participating in resist, all the chicanery. in order to bring on the class struggle to organise black people politically, clear policy at any time on the question that those kids have a police record politicians are not people. When we say One of the things that you find as a crats, politicians and capitalists who sit the same man who gave David a year?” when he believes that the mass of the but with a different vocabulary. It’s a from the age of nine. Someone says struggles of the kind. Listening to understanding that we have something of race. concrete problem. “Power to the People” we don’t mean they took an apple from down the road, leaders, we mean pow er to the people. ” 6 7