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Report proves Rashan Charles did not swallow any 'drugs'
Forensic results reveal that 20-year-old Rashan Charles did not swallow any illegal drugs.
On the 2nd of August, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) recently released a report stating, "The IPCC has now received results of forensic analysis of an object that was removed from Rashan’s airway by paramedics. The object did not contain a controlled substance."
The death of Rashan Charles sparked a number of protests in east London, as video footage showed the father of one struggling on the floor of an off license, with an officer on top of him.
At the time of Rashan's death the police insinuated he had "swallowed" drugs and the media were quick to spread the story, and social media was quick to vilify him in the vilest ways:
Kids rioting in London because a druggie swallowed his own stash and died. You want to blame someone? Find a mirror. https://t.co/h3BAsRANgu
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) July 28, 201
#JusticeForRashan I really couldn't care less. Simple really, any honorable, law-abiding person would stop when requested to do so by police
— TRUMP WON BITCHES
Many were quick to point out the insensitivity & hypocrisy shown in these comments:
Rashan Charles was not only killed by police brutality but had his rep smeared too. He was innocent not a drug dealer #justiceforrashan https://t.co/8HSaWRxpuy
— Lil Nick (@nickkerr1961) August 2, 2017
Before you chat shit about #Dalston, think how you'd feel if it was your demographic dying often in police custody #JusticeForRashan
— Natassja Zielinski (@natassjarosina) July 29, 2017
I grew up in Camden, I saw rich kids take class A drugs daily. Not ONE of them got choked out, not even searched, ever. https://t.co/deQWX6DKSk
— Akala (@akalamusic) August 2, 2017
This comes as the recent report by the Met Police shows that 36% of the 12,605 incidents where the police used force from April to the end of June involved black people. Even though black people only make up about 13% of London's population.
Whereas white people form about 57% of the city's population and were involved in 45% incidents where force was used; while Asians make up about 18% of the city's population, they made up 10% of the cases that involved police force.
MP Diane Abbott has called these finding "deeply troubling." She went on to add: "It cannot be right that black people and young black men, in particular, are so much more likely to have force used against them.”
“All police forces throughout the country must treat all communities equally, and with respect.”
In the meantime, the IPCC has promised to "consider every shred of available evidence," as the investigation into Rashan's death continues.
