Blair Peach

[Rhodes]

I was mortified yesterday to hear that, following the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act, it was supposedly found that Blair Peach died after being hit over the head by a Police Officer with a Police radio or a cosh at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall in 1979. Why on earth dredge this up now after 31 years as it's not going to bring New Zealand born Anti-Fascist campaigner Peach back to life is it.

[Hookey]

I was mortified yesterday to hear that, following the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act, it was supposedly found that Blair Peach died after being hit over the head by a Police Officer with a Police radio or a cosh at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall in 1979. Why on earth dredge this up now after 31 years as it's not going to bring New Zealand born Anti-Fascist campaigner Peach back to life is it.

 

Nor did it take the Freedom of Information Act to tell us what we already knew!!!!

[Rhodes]

Hookey - Peach went on the march in 1979 and paid for it with his life, he didn't have to go to Southall that day

[officialspokesman]

Hookey - Peach went on the march in 1979 and paid for it with his life, he didn't have to go to Southall that day

 

 

And the police officer didn't have to hit him either.

Can it be right that the officer involved has never stood trial and remained a free man for the past 31 years, even though he may be legally responsible for an innocent mans death?.

It has always seemed to me that we have one law for the rich and powerful, and another law for the poor. Does anyone seriously want the so called law enforcers to be above the law as well?.

[Rhodes]

I still make the Jury, who in 1980 concluded at an inquest that Peach's death was misadventure, spot on. Naturally the verdict went down like a lead balloon at the time and the Anti-Nazi League, who organised the demonstration, unsurprisingly said that it would seek to have it overturned however they were the ones with Peach's blood on their hands and not the Police who were simply at Southall on 23 April 1979 to do their job and maintain law and order.

[officialspokesman]

I still make the Jury, who in 1980 concluded at an inquest that Peach's death was misadventure, spot on. Naturally the verdict went down like a lead balloon at the time and the Anti-Nazi League, who organised the demonstration, unsurprisingly said that it would seek to have it overturned however they were the ones with Peach's blood on their hands and not the Police who were simply at Southall on 23 April 1979 to do their job and maintain law and order.

 

 

Everyone has the right to demonstrate and protest in a democratic society, and rightly so.

If it wasn't for committed people taking to the streets to protest against the things they feel so passionate about, we would still have savages killing foxes in the name of sport, the hated poll tax, and countless hospitals closed to their communities, woman wouldn't have the vote, unions would be illegal, and ordinary working class people would be living in abject poverty.

The police only have the right to use reasonable force if they consider life to be in danger, or in self defence. Neither could be used as an excuse for what happened in Southall 32 years ago.

I just don't understand how anyone can think that Blair Peach's death was the responsibility of the Anti Nazi League.

Edited April 30, 2010 by officialspokesman

[Rhodes]

Everyone has the right to demonstrate and protest in a democratic society

Officialspokesman - That's absolutely right however if a protester happens to die in the process then a scape goat shouldn't automatically be found and the blame pinned onto somebody else. You pays your money and you takes your choice in a democractic society, your words not mine, and that's what Blair Peach unfortunately did on 23 April 1979

[officialspokesman]

Everyone has the right to demonstrate and protest in a democratic society

Officialspokesman - That's absolutely right however if a protester happens to die in the process then a scape goat shouldn't automatically be found and the blame pinned onto somebody else. You pays your money and you takes your choice in a democractic society, your words not mine, and that's what Blair Peach unfortunately did on 23 April 1979

 

 

Jean Charles De Menezes was shot 7 times and killed by the police and once again no charges have ever been bought against any police officer. Blair Peach was allegedly killed by a police officer and he or she was never charged. Tony Blair takes us into an illegal war and hundreds of our brave soldiers, some of them little more than boys pay with their lives along with hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, and no-one seriously expects him to ever stand trial for what he has done.

Blair Peach was only guilty of standing up for what he believed in and he paid with his life, that is not "paying your money and taking your choice", which incidentally I have never previously said.

Edited April 30, 2010 by officialspokesman

[Rhodes]

Officialspokesman - Like I said Blair Peach chose to go on that Anti-Fascist march 31 years ago and paid the ultimate price for doing so, it's all water under the bridge now so why rake it all up as it's not going to bring him back to life

[officialspokesman]

Officialspokesman - Like I said Blair Peach chose to go on that Anti-Fascist march 31 years ago and paid the ultimate price for doing so, it's all water under the bridge now so why rake it all up as it's not going to bring him back to life

 

As it was you that started this thread I thought it was you that was raking it up.

What planet do you come from?.

[Rhodes]

Officialspokesman - All I'm saying is that Blair Peach got what was coming to him in Southall on 23 April 1979 so why has one of his supposed supporters raked up the matter again 31 years later.

As for bringing Jean Charles De Menezes into the equation you have to ask the question why did the Brazilian act so suspiciously on his way to Stockwell underground station and then down to the platform, the Police acted appropriately that day as they were on high alert and for all they knew De Menezes could well have been a terrorist with a bomb strapped to him

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

An intresting link here - Peach a non-national of this country trying to influance the government in a political protest, and Jean Charles De Menezes who had overstayed his work permit and then ran when challenged.

 

How many times have any of you protested in an other country or worked illigaly abroard? - if they had't put themselves in these positions there would be a good chance they would both be alive.

 

I am going to the USA and Canada soon and I will be respecting the laws of those countries and will not be trying to dictate a political agenda to there populations - it is a pity that those visiting this country do not do the same!