Black Lives Matter activists call for ‘national day of action’ on Saturday in protest against Met police shooting Chris Kaba dead – just as under-pressure force prepares for Queen’s funeral on Monday
- The father-to-be died after a car chase with police in South London last Monday
- A single shot was fired after he was stopped by police, resulting in his death
- An officer involved in the incident is being investigated by the police watchdog
Black Lives Matter are calling for a national day of action this weekend over the death of Chris Kaba.
The activists say Mr Kaba’s family want protests to be held on Saturday in London and other locations throughout the UK.
It came after he was shot dead by police after they tried to stop his car when it triggered an ANPR alert. He was not armed.
The London arm of the protests are said to be starting outside New Scotland Yard.
It looks sure to cause a headache for officers already stretched by policing events connected to the mourning of the Queen.
Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh told MailOnline: ‘It would be very challenging for us if it were to take place.
Thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters stage a protest in central London last Saturday
The protests last Saturday look to be repeated again this weekend over the death of Chris Kaba
Chris Kaba, 24, was shot dead by armed police last Monday night following a car chase
‘I encourage everyone to strive for stamina. Nobody should be able to go on like this,’ rapper Stormzy (pictured) told the crowd. ‘They were responsible for the death of someone’
‘But we would be able to deal with it if it did.
‘We are in a period of mourning for the Queen. The whole country is taking part in it.
‘It would be more helpful if a protest wasn’t this weekend, but people have the right to demonstrate.
‘We will police anything like that without fear or favour’
Father-to-be Mr Kaba, 24, was shot dead by armed police last Monday night following a car chase in south London.
Mr Kaba’s heartbroken mother, Helen Nkama, led last Saturday’s peaceful protest that was attended by an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 demonstrators.
One demonstrator said she was attending the shooting protest last Saturday because young black people should be able to live their lives without feeling threatened
Mr Kaba’s heartbroken mother, Helen Nkama, led Saturday’s peaceful protest that was attended by an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 demonstrators
Mr Kaba was unarmed when he died following a car chase in South London on Monday evening. The rapper was hemmed in by two police cars on a residential street in Streatham Hill – a single round was fired which proved fatal
MP Diane Abbott, whose constituency includes Hackney North and Stoke Newington, and rapper Stormzy were also in attendance.
The hip-hop star encouraged the crowd to ‘strive for stamina’ and called for responsibility in Mr Kaba’s death.
The march came as Mr Kaba’s family demanded the officer who fired the shot was ‘immediately suspended’ from his job while the incident was investigated.
He was suspended earlier this week.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officer for homicide.
Crowds marching to Scotland Yard last Saturday paid tribute to Mr Kaba, who was due to become a father in months.
Signs reading ‘Black Lives Matter’, ‘Justice for Chris Kaba’ and ‘Abolish the Met’ were held up as speakers using a megaphone led chants of ‘no justice, no peace’ and ‘police are the murderers.’
There was a limited police presence as demonstrators assembled on Parliament Square and made their way through Whitehall.
Mr Kaba’s family were leading the march, Channel 4 reporter Ria Chatterjee reported. The group took regular stops as the family needed breaks.
‘We will go at the pace of grief,’ one of the announcers reportedly said.
Stormzy, addressing the protesters, echoed the Kaba family’s call for accountability.
‘I encourage everyone to strive for stamina. Nobody should be able to go on like this,’ he said. ‘They were responsible for the death of someone.
‘That is [possibly] murder. It could have been either a brother or a nephew.’
Fellow Wretch 32, another British rapper, was also present for the rally. He was part of a small group standing on a raised platform, passing around a microphone and leading chants.
He stated: ‘Why is our law superior to the law? Without justice, there is no peace.’
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