
Darcus Howe – one of the most significant black activists in Britain.
Activist Darcus Howe championed racial justice in Britain. Born in Trinidad in 1943, he came to the UK in 1961 intending to study law, instead he dedicated his time to activism. He joined the Black British Panthers in 1987 - a movement inspired by the American Black Panthers.
One of the 'Mangrove Nine', Darcus along with eight others marched to the police station in Notting Hill, London, to protest against police raids of the Mangrove Restaurant.
Darcus and Altheia Jones-LeCointe led the defence of the Mangrove Nine who were accused of incitement to riot. Darcus demanded an all-black jury but the judge rejected. They endured a 55-day trial before finally being acquitted.
In 1981, Darcus organised the 20,000 strong Black People's March in 1981 claiming official inefficient policing of the investigation of the New Cross fire in which 13 black teenagers died.
Darcus Howe passed aged 74 in 2017. He was a leading force in challenging institutional racism in the police, the courts and the media as well as a prominent journalist and political commentator.
His voice remains just as powerful today. His spirit lives through history and the continued importance of the struggle for justice and equality.
Website: http://darcushowe.org/
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