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Lozells Riots 2005

Clashes that erupted on the evening of Saturday 22nd October 2005, between Asian and African Caribbean youths led to numerous acts of violence in the Lozells and Handsworth area. The disturbances led to multiple stabbings, gunshot incidents and the death of 23-year-old Isiah Young-Sam. The spark for the disturbances was based around a rumour concerning the alleged rape of a young Jamaican girl by a gang of Asian men at a local shop. Protests were called to convene outside the shop premises where the alleged rape had taken place. Despite Police efforts the victim of the alleged rape did not come forward and the investigation ground to a halt.
On Monday 22nd May 2006 three men were convicted of the murder of Isiah Young-Sam and each man is to serve a minimum sentence of 25 years.

Lozells quickly became the focus for the nations media and a discussion quickly emerged upon the topic of black racism. Reporters were quick to interview community leaders and publish evidence of inter-communal hatred. b:RAP argues that this new racism is as familiar to us as old racism. Policies have tended to emphasise ethnicity as a key to entitlement this has served to divide communities rather than bring them together. In the article, Politics of the Ghetto, Nick Cohen (Observer, 30th October 2005) argues: 

In Birmingham, you see projects for the black unemployed, not all the unemployed; for disadvantaged Asians or Indians or Muslims, not all the disadvantaged. Across the country, wherever the BNP makes gains, you can guarantee it has been the beneficiary of white anger at grants and services dispensed on communalist lines.

Many tensions have developed because of funding/benefits being offered along an ethnic basis. What can be done to ease these tensions? b:RAP argues that race needs to be relocated into the context of poverty, which affects many groups (African Caribbean, Asian and White) in similar ways. Economic changes in society have left many of our communities on the sidelines and this needs to be challenged to counter inequality in our society.

For further information click here.

 Lozells.pdf (71.35 kB) 

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