Riots Reframed – starting the debate


Emma Smith

Around 1,000 young people patiently queued to watch a new documentary film, Riots Reframed, in Tower Hamlets, east London on Saturday 16 March.

Throughout the film, mainly interviews with commentators, campaigners and those imprisoned after the riots, spontaneous cheers showed that the anger, especially against police racism and media prejudice, still burns.

Research last year found black people are 30 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched by police in England and Wales.

This film was made by Fahim Alam, who was imprisoned in August 2011 for taking part in the riots in Hackney.

A jury took half an hour to overturn the case against him earlier this month. Imran Khan, known for acting for the family of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, represented him in court.

Following the film a question and answer session heard from many of those who appeared in the film but also gave members of the audience an opportunity to debate how to challenge a system based on inequality, racism, prejudice and unfairness.