Guilt by Association: Black History Month 2022 event
28 Sep 2022
In celebration of Black History Month, Creative Manchester will be hosting a panel discussion with leading experts to explore the effects of conspiracy and joint enterprise laws in racializing and criminalizing particular communities and cultures (Mon 10 Oct, 2.30pm at the Whitworth Art Gallery)
In a recent conspiracy case in Manchester, prosecutors were able to build a group case against several black teenagers and have them convicted after they used social media messages between the teenagers that referenced violence in drill rap lyrics. The prosecutors claimed the teenagers were affiliated to a ‘gang.’
This case crystallises certain broader trends in group prosecutions, with a recent report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies on joint enterprise laws in England and Wales (‘The Usual Suspects’, 2022) finding that young men of colour continue to be disproportionately swept into large group convictions.
Professor of Public History, David Olusoga OBE, will chair a panel discussion with expert speakers, including Professor Eithne Quinn, Chancellor Nazir Afzal (The University of Manchester), founder of Kids of Colour, Roxy Legane, and Jan Cunliffe, Director of JENGbA. They will reflect on the effects of conspiracy and joint enterprise laws in racializing and criminalizing particular communities and cultures, and on how these laws increasingly raise questions about fairness and justice as they relate to the prosecution of young Black and Asian men.
This event has been organised by the Creative Manchester Research Platform, and is presented in partnership with the Global Inequalities research beacon.
Register:
This event is free. Everyone is welcome to attend the event, either in person, or via livestream.
Please register via Eventbrite