You're Right, It Does, And You've Drawn The Same Wrong Conclusions From It Again...

Watching the harrowing footage of what would become Yves Sakila’s final moments of consciousness, it is hard not to be reminded of the agonising death of George Floyd.

Had this one too consumed mass quantities of dangerous illegal drugs, then? 

Sakila was declared dead in a Dublin hospital on 15 May, a short time after being pinned to the ground by security guards outside Arnotts, a city centre department store.

Congolese-born Sakila had allegedly been suspected of shoplifting in the store and fled.

Maybe he should have remained in the store to plead his innocence then. 

In these deeply distressing images, the 35-year-old is being restrained by a group of security guards for nearly five minutes. He tries to protest but his shouts are muffled in the concrete when one of the men appears to put his knee on the back of Sakila’s neck. By the end of the video, Sakila has stopped moving.

The cause of death has not yet been established – an initial post-mortem examination reportedly inconclusive. Nor is it likely that the police investigation into claims of excessive force will establish exactly what was going through the minds of those involved.

Probably struggling to subdue a suspect who was trying to escape, no more than that.... Oh, and perhaps thinking about the danger they could have been in!

Yet, this is what I would like to understand. What would compel someone who can see that a person is being forcibly restrained by several men, to kneel on the individual’s neck? Would it have been different if the man suspected of stealing had been white?

No. Because it hasn't made any difference in this case. Securuty guards are there to stop shoplifting, and they will tackle you if you are black, white or sky-blue pink! And if shoplifting is a dangerous pasttime, it doesn't seem to have stopped anyone.

Six years ago we gathered and protested in the streets under Black Lives Matter banners. We were finally addressing the racism in Ireland that was overlooked for so long. Was all that in vain?

Not for the founders of BLM who made out like bandits, Sean!  

As black people in Ireland, it feels as though we are repeatedly asked to sweep such horrific “incidents” under the rug, as though they are isolated tragedies, unconnected to any patterns or larger systemic issues.

Well, they are clearly connected to the criminality that seems to be overly present in the black population. But I feel you wouldn't want to discuss that... 

But even after an event that has drawn international attention, most of the country appears to be in denial. The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, offered his condolences, adding that “the situation will have to be thoroughly investigated” and that “a lot of people are clearly very concerned about what has transpired here”. But showing no willingness to ask if racism may have played a part in Sakila’s handling lets the danger grow.

Because he can see that it clearly didn't.  

There are justified concerns about not prejudicing the investigation. But in a climate where former prime ministers join in the scapegoating of marginalised and often racialised communities for the shortcomings of decades of failed leadership, the lack of a profound debate about systemic racism risks enabling more violent behaviour in the future.

The discussion of 'systemic racism' as a policy is getting a hammering in the UK at the moment, but you do you, Sean.

You're Just Not That Riveting, Clearly

Rosamund Pike confronted an audience member during a performance of Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End on Saturday. The actor, 47, who won an Olivier award for her role as a crown court judge in the show, blasted an audience member for texting during the climax of the play.

How very dare they not pay attention! 

During the curtain call, Pike pointed out how unacceptable it is for audiences to use their phones, especially during pivotal moments.

If you were any good in the play, maybe they wouldn't? 

A member of the audience said after the performance that Pike seemed “genuinely upset”, the Times reported.

Ah, bless... 

Pike is not the first thespian to criticise audience behaviour in British theatres. Just weeks ago, Cynthia Erivo brought her performance of Dracula to a standstill after noticing an audience member filming on a mobile phone.

Rather like being at school, they punish the entire audience because one member is acting up.

It's Not 'Too Hard' To Reverse Direction, Actually...

Gaby Hinsliff takes the field to defend anti racism training, because of course she does...

The two families have never met but are bonded both in grief and in a desire to avoid what Webber called “political grandstanding”.

The two families referred to being Hanry Nowak's and Barnaby Webber's, victim of Valdo Calocane. United not just by the loss of a family member, but by betrayal of the establishment in dealing with the crime.

There is no way back from this madness without acknowledging hard truths. Calocane was sectioned and discharged four times, and two of his doctors testified that race hadn’t influenced those decisions. But Dr Jonathan Gibson – who saw Calocane four months before the killings, and now believes he should have pushed for his patient to be forcibly medicated – testified that he had been repeatedly told psychiatry was “institutionally racist” and too coercive, especially with young black men, adding that he was “viscerally” aware of the argument and “I do not believe it had no bearing on VC’s care”.

Not do most people. 

If professionals are now questioning their own judgments and assumptions, then that’s healthy and necessary – and I say that as a writer who has had to learn how to do it. But it’s also undeniably difficult, forcing people in already complex, pressured careers such as policing and medicine to work with what can only be described as a bewildering number of mental tabs constantly open – including the idea, expressed in police guidance now being reviewed by government, that fairness isn’t necessarily treating everyone the same.

Give us an ecxample then! 

(Reading a deaf suspect their rights like anyone else is equal treatment, for example, but it’s not fair if they can’t hear you.)

That's clearly the case, because they are physically incapable - so are you saying that black people are physically incapable of obeying the law and refraining from murder!? I can hardly believe it! 

Though a consultant psychiatrist should be capable of exceedingly fine judgments, it’s a big ask of an 18-year-old security guard on minimum wage or a rookie police constable straight out of sixth form. Walking these high wires takes skilled and supportive management, and better diversity training, not less.

Oh, bless them! What sort of 'better diversity training'?  

If any professional has been too squeamish, then the takeaway is that kneejerk assumptions either way are dangerous and need confronting, not that the legacy of the Macpherson report on racism in policing needs dismantling, as Farage is now arguing. The lesson of Henry Nowak’s awful death is not that Stephen Lawrence’s has somehow ceased to matter, but that lessons must be learned from both.

Ding Ding Ding! Lefty Buzzword Bingo in play! 

The Dam Has Broken...

The furore over two-tier policing intensified last night after a supermarket boss accused officers of treating a false claim of racism more seriously than rampant violence by shoplifters.

And I feel he'll not be alone in speaking out.

Iceland founder Sir Malcolm Walker says 'two-tier policing isn't just happening on the streets' as he revealed cops rushed to one of his stores three minutes after a phoney accusation of racism was made against a shop supervisor. The entrepreneur made a formal complaint to Scotland Yard after the Asian supervisor was handcuffed and dragged to a police car by officers who rushed to the scene when a black customer made a complaint of racism after being caught tampering with milk bottles.In contrast, Sir Malcolm said, police often did not attend even when staff had been seriously hurt or threatened with violence by shoplifters.

The gloves are obviously off - once one speaks out, there's no reason for the others to stay silent. Who will speak up for their staff next? 

That Tune's Familiar: Parody Songs

Another song that seems to be popular for parody makers, as the king of parody himself, Weird Al Yankovic, has proved, but as a lifelong 'Trek' fan, I chose this one.

Back To Basics For Westminster...

 

...but just wait for someone to claim 'cultural appopriation', Matt.

Sunday Funnies...

 Only 21? And the robot hummingbird is cool!

Because They Aren't Cooked In Beef Dripping, That's Why!

London leads the way in so many culinary fields. It can’t be beaten for fine dining. We have a sandwich game second to none. And the sushi is so good people have been known to travel from Japan for it. But Achilles had his heel, and we have fish and chips.

Not entirely true, I feel, my local - which provides my regular Friday night supper - is good. I wouldn't use it if it wasn't. But I've had better. On holiday recently, walking the John Muir Way from Dunbar to Belhaven on Bank Holiday Monday (and getting sunburned!) we stopped in at the Brig and Barrel for a meal before heading back to Edinburgh. 

Now, cod is not the usual up there, it's haddock, so I had beer battered haddock, and it was quite different from the occasional haddock I've ordered here just for a change. Probably because it was locally caught and fresh, not frozen. And even the beer that went into the batter was local, from the brewery next door.

The truth of it is, the capital is the worst place in the country to eat our national dish. I should know: I wrote The Standard’s best fish and chip guide. The best in London, sure. But if anyone told me that these were the best fish and chips in Britain, I’d feel as if I’d been slapped round the face with a wet haddock.

Two of my picks for best London chippies, Golden Union in Soho and Seashell of Lisson Grove in Marylebone, were nominated for this year’s National Fish and Chip Awards. Neither were eventual winners though as York’s The Scrap Box was named best takeaway and Trenchers of Whitby won best restaurant.

Both from 'oop North', it should be noted. 

Why are fish and chips in London such a damp squib when the capital excels at every style of cooking under the sun?

He then laboriously tries various suggestions: that cod is tasteless compared to haddock (true, if haddock is fresh), that whatever fish is used, it's not as fresh (sone truth to that!), that it just doesn't taste as good unless it's eaten at the seaside (rubbish! though I'll test that theory if I take a day trip to Rye next month as planned) but he never thinks to question the cooking oil. 

Beef dripping is far preferable! Forget health worries, it just is...

A Blind Pig Finds An Acorn...

Jason Okundaye on the murder of Henry Nowak in the 'Guardian' is the article you would expect from an inveterate race-baiter, full of 'But black people even more so!' bullshit, but there is one interesting observation:

Our leaders have been worse than useless.

 Yep, gotta agree with that, though not for the same reason...

Can none of our political leaders bring themselves to say that two-tier policing is a myth, and inequality and racism is still present in the institution? 

No, they clearly cannot because we all see this incident as a prime example of it, and even Starmer knows that trying to convince voters that up in down and north is south isn;t going to wash this time.

Can none of them say that the life of any person in police custody should be preserved in any circumstance?

That's an impossible ask: all they can do is try, not guarentee. People who have swallowed drugs, people witth undiagnosed medical conditions...police deal with all of these on a daily basis. And that was not the case in this instance, they didn't even try, contrary to their training.

And we've not forgotten what training they have put into practice! 

This is, indeed, the crux of the matter. We have the reciepts, and we aren't going to forget them. No matter how much chaff the establisment throws up in attempts at deflection.

 

People With Disabilities Worst Affected, Says Guess Who...

I used to love a heatwave. I was the sort of British person who acted like I was in the Mediterranean if the sun was slightly visible, coercing friends to take the outside restaurant table and eagerly working in the garden until my MacBook started to overheat rather than my internal organs. That was until I developed post-viral fatigue from the flu nine years ago.

Yup, it's Frances Ryan, the 'Guardian's perennial disability whinger.

Now, the heat means suffering rather than pleasure: less energy, more pain and worse breathing. This has only increased as heatwaves across Europe have soared. I have spent this week of record-high May temperatures in the UK largely in bed, with the blinds drawn and two 5ft-high fans looming over me like security guards at a club no one wants to get into.

How nice for you, the rest of us were at work. Someone has to pay for your benefits, after all. 

And yet there is a fact that many have not yet wrestled with: the millions of homes now enjoying air conditioning don’t house most of the people who really need it.

Well, who do they house? After all, the fact they bought aircon surely shows they do need it? 

While the wealthy and healthy can find tens of thousands of pounds to kit out their houses with built-in AC systems, disabled and chronically ill people – who are disproportionately on low wages or out of work long term – must make do with an Argos fan.

Even the lower-cost portable AC units, which cost hundreds of pounds, are out of reach to many people relying solely on disability benefits. And then there are the swathes of disabled people who rent (if you have a disability, you’re less likely to own your own home) who won’t have the right to upgrade their properties.

🙄  

Every time I see a reel on social media of chronically ill people wearing eye masks in bed during the day because the sunlight physically hurts them, I wonder exactly how many “record hot bank holidays” we plan to put marginalised communities through without support.

Do you have a solution, or just a grievance? 

There is, of course, a short- and long-term way of tackling this, if there was political will. As climate activists reluctantly argued this week, AC needs to be urgently installed as an emergency measure in schools, care homes and other places where people vulnerable to heat live.

Oh, I should have been more specific - do you have an affordable and sustainable olution? 

And yet AC is not sustainable for ever. Its environmental impact means it is as much a cause as a solution to climate breakdown.

It is also fundamental – stop me if you’ve heard this one before – to address the climate crisis that is actually causing our heatwaves, for example through reducing emissions and shifting to renewable energy.

So that’s ’No’ then…. 

I have bought AC for my bedroom that will be ready to use soon. I feel simultaneously guilty and lucky that I can afford it. Unlike millions of others, by the next heatwave, I will have a room to stay safe in.

If only it was soundproof and had nice soft walls….