Large crowds gathered in central London this weekend to protest the death of Chris Kaba, who was fatally shot by an armed police officer last week on 5 September.
On Saturday (10 September), protesters marched on Whitehall and gathered outside Scotland Yard to demand justice for the 24-year-old, who was about to become a father.
Kaba was reportedly driving an Audi that was not registered to him when he was pursued by armed police and shot in Streatham Hill in south London.
At the demonstration on Saturday, protesters held signs reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Justice for Chris Kaba”. London rapper Stormzy was among those protesting, which also included Kaba’s family.
The 29-year-old artist delivered a powerful speech, saying he was hesitant to come because he didn’t want to take the focus away from the protest. “They try and turn it into this other thing and use my name to try and make it about me, but it’s nothing about me”, he said.
“It’s about us, it’s about the family, it’s about everyone grieving. Chris has a mother, he has a family, he has brothers, he has friends, people who knew him in real life, for them this is unbearable,” he continued, saying that he wanted to use his “platform” and “voice” to help.
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Footage of the protest, which was captured by a helicopter, aired on Sky News. One of the channel’s reporters, Sarah-Jane Mee, incorrectly told viewers that the march was in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week. A spokesperson for Sky News has since apologised, as has Mee.
Kaba’s family have called for the immediate suspension of the Met police officer involved in his shooting.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has launched a homicide investigation into Kaba’s death. The Met has not yet confirmed what action it will take to discipline any officers involved.
In a statement released on Friday (9 September), Met assistant commissioner Amanda Pearson said: “My thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Kaba’s friends and family with this news. I also know how concerned our communities are and how they will also be affected by this significant update. We share their concerns around high feeling in the community.
“The Met is co-operating fully as the IOPC work to independently establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.”
The statement said that the officer is not currently on operational duties due to the “formal post incident process”. It also said that a senior officer would “now carefully consider their work status going forward”.
Pearson continued: “I absolutely understand that this shooting is a matter of grave concern, particularly for our Black communities. I also know what a difficult and often dangerous job firearms officers in particular do every day to try to protect the public. They understand and expect that on the very rare occasions they discharge their weapons they will face intense scrutiny. I don’t underestimate the impact on them of this development.
“I’d urge the public to allow the IOPC the time and space needed to progress the investigation.”
