The Chief Superintendent of the Black Police Association, Ali Dizaei, has agreed to speak at the "No to stop and search" meeting Respect is organising tomorrow, Tuesday, 19th February at Friends House in Euston.

He joins Peter Herbert, Chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, Margaret Greer, Chair of London UNISON Black Members Group (pc), and Claudia Webb, Vice Chair of the Trident Independent Advisory Group, who will be discussing the implications of increased stop and search powers for the police, and the negative consequences for black and Asian youth. Kumar Murshid, Respect's GLA list candidate and former race relations advisor to Ken Livingstone, and Lindsey German, Respect's mayoral candidate, are also addressing the meeting.

Respect's view is that the way to deal with gun and knife crime is to stop treating black and Asian youth as suspects, for a start. Funding for local facilities and youth centres must be increased, not cut. The education system must encourage black and Asian youth and not criminalise them. We need to look at the system under which we live, and the issues of poverty and inequality among young people in Britain today. This is the line that we have expressed in the media.

This is a very important meeting, and the first political meeting that any party has had that addresses the new stop and search proposals. It's also a unique meeting of minds on the issue that will boost Respect's voice and profile, especially in the run-up to the GLA elections. All London members should make every effort to attend this meeting, and bring as many friends and colleagues as possible.

"NO TO STOP AND SEARCH"
TUESDAY, 19TH FEBRUARY AT 7PM
FRIENDS HOUSE, THE SMALL HALL
EUSTON ROAD, LONDON

In solidarity,
Respect National Office