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Posts
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for the record
i dont think they were wrongly convicted
but i still think the appeal will make bigger head lines
and i still think the police cocked the whole thing up from start to finish
and i still belive the media found them guilty before they got to courtSome people seem to have let their exasperation and fury at being teased so successfully by thin get in the way of the most important facts about this case – the racist atmosphere of murder (Lawrence wasn’t the first or the last to be murdered by white power gangs), and the police incompetence which led to four police investigations, two trials, a judicial inquiry, an inquest and nearly 19 years as the Lawrence family sought justice. Most of the gang seem to have escaped as a result (I hope Mrs Teapot, one of those who has not let the anti-thin crowd obscure her judgement) is right about Dobson squealing.
Thin made the right point about the cops – who can trust them on their record in this case? He is Tease Numero 1 on the boards, and people are infuriated by their inability to stamp on him, but the important thing isn’t thin but the racist climate where murder is acceptable among some young white kids.
@chameleon wrote:
Well, such a high profile case. The whole country (apart from the racists) have breathed a sigh of relief. Justice for Stephen and his family. A landmark case hopefully, and messages to racist thugs beware! We hope.
And it’s taken less than a page of seriousness.
Hang your heads in shame.Bang on Mr Sceptical. The reason for my post above.
Racism needs to be adressed properly. It is allowed in the chat rooms here and has been disgustingly allowed on the boards many times. I say disgustingly on the boards, because it shamefully remains for all to read again and again.
In the chat rooms when racism is abused I see many regs just sitting there quiet. It is not acceptable and leads the racist to believe he is speaking for the majority by their silence.
Lets hope the others are brought to justice and the Lawrence family can have closure, without the feeling of failing their son.@sceptical guy wrote:
Some people seem to have let their exasperation and fury at being teased so successfully by thin get in the way of the most important facts about this case – the racist atmosphere of murder (Lawrence wasn’t the first or the last to be murdered by white power gangs), and the police incompetence which led to four police investigations, two trials, a judicial inquiry, an inquest and nearly 19 years as the Lawrence family sought justice. Most of the gang seem to have escaped as a result (I hope Mrs Teapot, one of those who has not let the anti-thin crowd obscure her judgement) is right about Dobson squealing.
Thin made the right point about the cops – who can trust them on their record in this case? He is Tease Numero 1 on the boards, and people are infuriated by their inability to stamp on him, but the important thing isn’t thin but the racist climate where murder is acceptable among some young white kids.
Sceptical guy, there’s a drink waiting for you anytime our paths cross (better keep a spare fiver in my wallet).
The reason why Stephen Lawrence’s brutal* murder is still remembered is because the Met police messed up so badly that many thought it was corruption. They subsequently tried to cover up their mistakes and across the country it was found that police loyalty was so great that even officers who had no connection with the location and no love for the Met were prepared to demonise the Lawrences, excuse the murder and the police’s unprofessionalism and further negatively stereotype black people. Even though the sheer incompetence displayed during the investigation had been shoddy and shameful shameful.
Remember the term “Institutional Racism”? That was used to describe the inbuilt bias which ran through the police from training onwards to the extent that many officers found that in order to survive professionally they had to be thought of as tolerating or even encouraging racism. It survived because of an unchallenged bullying, macho culture but it was not exclusive to the police.
Some of the problems in addressing these issues stem from an inability to use the word ‘racism’ honestly and appropriately. Some police officers strenuously denied any racism in the investigation seemed comfortable blaming the problems on corruption. Neither is comforting to me.
Stephen was murdered in 1993, The inquiry which began in 1998** and reported in 1999 had a huge impact on public services and public attitudes and spearheaded progress across areas of inequality in the UK. However these things have not been secured and bigotry on a personal and institutional level must be tackled by the many, not just the few.
*one anecdote, Stephen’s hands, which he apparently held up to defend himself, were so badly damaged they had to be covered at the funeral – an open coffin is common at Caribbean funerals.
**dates from memory, not checked.
Bang on Mr Sceptical. The reason for my post above.
Racism needs to be adressed properly. It is allowed in the chat rooms here and has been disgustingly allowed on the boards many times. I say disgustingly on the boards, because it shamefully remains for all to read again and again.
In the chat rooms when racism is abused I see many regs just sitting there quiet. It is not acceptable and leads the racist to believe he is speaking for the majority by their silence.
Lets hope the others are brought to justice and the Lawrence family can have closure, without the feeling of failing their son.Well said, Chameleon. I see a lot of racist comments in chat and I challenge. Often I am alone in challenging and sometimes I am attacked for doing so. I won’t stop because as Chameleon says, silence appears to indicate consent. I have been told that it is ‘only an opinion’ or even that ‘everyone knows it’s true’. I have seen the damaging effects of racist ‘jokes’ and it can be heartbreaking. Small remarks and ‘jokes’ create the climate in which racism flourishes and grows until we get attacks like the Stephen Lawrence one and the recent one in Salford, which brought shame on the UK. The guides also need to take this more seriously.
I believe that the majority of British people of whatever race, are decent and want to see the end to this hatred. I’m very happy today for the Lawrence family who have remained dignified throughout.’
breaking news just heard norris and that other bloke have got 15 years,but are to be treated as juveniles,because thats what they were,when they committed murder
well being an ex con myself :oops: scratches head
how is that going to work in prison.?Sentenced as juveniles, imprisoned as adults.
im still a bit confused,com about this jen? i just cant see how it will work
i do know they will “get it”
this racism cr ap it needs to be stopped now!!!
after all,if we ever hurt ourselves etc
we all bleed red at the end of the day :?@best man wrote:
im still a bit confused,com about this jen? i just cant see how it will work
i do know they will “get it”
this racism cr ap it needs to be stopped now!!!
after all,if we ever hurt ourselves etc
we all bleed red at the end of the day :?That’s the frustrating thing about it cosy, it’s so bleedin’ (!) simple, but so many people just don’t seem to want to get it. Tragic.
What don’t you get?
The length of the sentence was determined as if they were juveniles, hence they got a minimum of 14 years 3 months for Norris and and a minimum 15 years and 2 months for Dobson. I have no idea what it would have been if they had been sentenced as if they were adults, presumably longer.
The sentence will be served as adults in an adult prison.
Will they “get it”? I guess it depends how rife racism is in the prison population, if it’s rife then they may well be treated as heros.As for racism being stopped, I agree, but sadly I believe that it will always exist to some degree as long as we have people who see differences as something to be attacked. Heaven forbid that it should become acceptable and the norm again though.
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