Over 150 people gathered tonight to protest outside a police station just yards from the site where Henry Nowak was murdered.
The crowd gathered outside the police station in Southampton and took the knee as part of their anti-police demonstration. Protesters held a three-minute silence in memory of murdered university student Henry, 18, almost a week after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life.
One woman shouted “take the knee” to police officers, who refused. Chants were heard of ‘I can’t breathe’ – the words uttered by Henry as he was arrested while telling officers he had been stabbed.
View 6 ImagesHenry Nowak begged for help after he was repeatedly stabbed(Image: Family/Solent News)
‘No justice, no peace’ was also heard being chanted outside the police station. The protest was held outside Portswood Police Station, less than 100 yards from where Henry was murdered in December last year.
Unlike Tuesday’s protests, which saw officers and a police dog injured in attacks, tonight’s remained peaceful. Another small protest took place yesterday.
Tonight, people were heard taking part in derogatory chants about Keir Starmer and chants saying “racist police off our streets”, believed to be in reference to comments that have been made regarding a ‘two-tier’ policing system.
View 6 ImagesPeople gather to protest the death of Henry Nowak outside Portswood Police Station,(Image: Getty Images)
The three-minute protest was in reference to the length of time it apparently took for police to start first aid on Henry, who told officers he had been stabbed as he was handcuffed after Digwa claimed that Henry had been the pepetrator of a racist attack.
One protester said: “We’re going to see just how long three minutes feels.”
Craig, who has lived in Southampton all his life, said he’s “fed up”. The dad-of-two said: “I just look at Henry’s face and if that was my son I would be going out of my head”.
One man who spoke to the crowd said: “A young man has lost his life, a family has been left broken and a city is searching for answers. What should we do with that anger?” Another said: “We aren’t racist. We aren’t a racist group. We stand as human beings.”
View 6 ImagesViolent disorder erupted just five days ago(Image: Getty Images)
Henry’s family warned against “knee-jerk reactions” after Digwa’s sentencing, but said there must be a “common sense approach to law and order”. Henry’s dad, Mark Nowak, said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.
“We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone. That is why we are calling on the government to treat knife crime as the national emergency that it is. We need real solutions. We need investment in prevention. We need stronger action on the sale, the ownership and carrying of all knives.
View 6 ImagesHenry’s family warned against ‘knee-jerk reactions’ after Digwa’s sentencing
A protestor holds a sign stating “justice for Henry” during a protest about the death of Henry Nowak outside Portswood Police Station (Image: Getty Images)
“And as this case so painfully demonstrates, we need common sense applied to our laws. This doesn’t mean knee-jerk reactions, this doesn’t mean going to extremes. It just means a common-sense approach to law and order.”
Tonight protesters put up banners outside the police station. One said ‘Never forget Henry Nowak’ while another read ‘Southampton City Council is not fit for purpose. Our streets are not safe’.
View 6 ImagesHenry’s family warned against ‘knee-jerk reactions’ after Digwa’s sentencing(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Tonight’s gathering comes after violent disorder erupted just five days ago, on Tuesday, with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, right-wing commentator Laurence Fox, and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi all in attendance to give speeches. The demonstrators marched towards Digwa’s house, with industrial bins, fence posts, bricks, and glass bottles being hurled at police.
Residents in the area faced property damage and smashed car windows the next morning, and 11 police officers were injured during the protest. The total number of people charged for violent disorder has reached 14, with four others arrested.
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Colin O’Malley said: “I was at the protest on Tuesday. The protest was great but a lot of people weren’t from here.”
Sammy Jackson said: “I was at the protest the other day. It started out quiet at the police station but a lot of people were drinking alcohol and shouldn’t have been there.”