BRIXTON UPRISING APRIL 1981
Brixton Riots (April 10-12, 1981) The Brixton Riots of April 10-12, 1981, described as the first serious riots of the 20th century in England, were the first large scale racial confrontations between "black British youth" and white British police. The rioting was sparked by antagonism between the mostly British born descendants of the Windrush Generation and the white police. The 1981 Brixton riot, or Brixton uprising, was a confrontation between the Metropolitan Police and protesters in Brixton, South London, England, between 10 and 12 April 1981.
The main riot on 11 April, dubbed "Bloody Saturday" by Time magazine, resulted in 279 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public; over a hundred vehicles were burned, including 56 police vehicles; almost 150 buildings were damaged, with thirty burned. The Uprising was the reaction of the "Black British" youth to the "Sus law." There were 82 arrests. Reports suggested that up to 5,000 people were involved.
Officers from other Metropolitan police districts and the Special Patrol Group were dispatched into Brixton, and within five days, 943 people were stopped and searched, and 82 arrested, through the heavy use of what was colloquially known as the "Sus law." The "Sus law" (which allowed police to arrest and secure convictions purely on suspicion of an impending illegality), were used disproportionately against "Black British" males (often involving the police flooding an area.) The "Sus law" was similar to the "stop and frisk" policy of New York police.
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