Brixton riots 1981 Flashcards
1
Q
What was Powellism
A
- Support for Enoch Powell
- Extreme nationalism with view that white British were superior to non-whites
2
Q
What was Race relations act 1976
A
- Prevented any racial discrimination (any practice that disadvantaged another group)
- Commission for Racial equality created, which had greater power than previous substitute
3
Q
What was battle of Lewisham 1977
A
- National front (anti multiracial group) marched through Lewisham
- Black people felt let down by police who allowed march to occur, and so relations began to disintegrate
4
Q
What was the ‘sus’ law
A
- meant police were allowed to stop and search people who were suspected to be criminals
- led to racial profiling, and mistreatment of black people
5
Q
What was operation swamp 81
A
- Meant there were many plain-clothed police officers using sus law
6
Q
What did Swamp 81 and sus law lead to
A
- 1000 people stopped in just 6 days
- people feeling attacked in their own community
7
Q
What happened 10 April 1981
A
- The arrest of a young black man saw the start of the riot
- for 3 days black people fought police and set fire to vehicles and buildings
- 300 injured
- 100 buildings destroyed
- 150 vehicles destroyed
8
Q
What was the Scarman report
A
- Report made by Lord Scarman to investigate riots
9
Q
What did Scarman report conclude
A
- the riots were ‘a spontaneous outburst of built up resentment sparked by particular events’
- concluded that met police were inherently racist
10
Q
What did Scarman report suggest
A
- making racially prejudiced behaviour an offence
- led to end of sus laws
11
Q
What happened in 1993
A
- Steven Lawrence murdered in racially motivated attack
12
Q
What did Lawrence’s murder show
A
- Police did not respond appropriately due to institutional racism
