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Pauline Campbell 1948-2008

Guido | 15.05.2008 16:08 | Repression | Social Struggles

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Pauline Campbell whose body was found at the grave of her daughter Sarah this morning. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, both activists and journalists alike. She fought for years for the rights of those whom the government and society would try to forget. She was never afraid to put herself in the firing line and to this effect she was arrested 15 times though the state never succeeded in prosecuting her. To see her courageous action and eloquent speeches it was easy to forget that she fought a daily battle with her grief at losing her only daughter. Something she never really recovered from.

She leaves behind a proud legacy of tireless campaigning and direct action. Rest in peace Pauline. You will be remembered with great pride and affection by all of us who had the honour of knowing you.



 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/11/327667.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354142.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/07/375647.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/382036.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/382185.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/389685.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/391700.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398668.html

Guido
- e-mail: guidoreports@riseup.net

Additions

Pauline, rest in peace.

15.05.2008 16:44

That sucks, I'm shocked and deeply saddened by this news.

I meet her a couple of times and interviewed her for a film I was making about the friends and families campaign. She was a remarkable and dedicated women with a passion to see justice done, not just for her daughter but for all those murdered at the hands of the state.

See the film here -  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2006/12/357844.mp4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZAncul1NvI

While I was search for the link I found the article below. It's from the Mirror last week and reports that the CPS will not prosecute the police who killed Frank Ogboru (who's widow also tells her emotional story in the video above)...

Tourist death in police custody
By Graham Brough 6/05/2008

A tourist screams "I can't breathe, I can't breathe" as four policemen pin his neck to the ground in the street. Within seconds, Frank Ogboru stops breathing and dies. But none of the men restraining the Nigerian car dealer will be face a court because the Crown Prosecution Service says there is not enough evidence to charge them.

It is the second time in three years that the CPS has decided not to prosecute police over the death of a black man during or shortly after arrest. In 2005, they ruled out charges against eight officers who restrained Roger Sylvester just before he collapsed with breathing problems in 1999.
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Officers were called to a block of flats where Mr Ogboru had argued with the owner's girlfriend. The film shows him calmly talking to two of them. But when the officers order Mr Ogboru not to return to the flat where he is staying, he protests and is led away. Off camera, the confrontation escalates and the officers use CS gas to floor Mr Ogboru and attempt to put handcuffs on him.

Members of the public gathered round, with one filming the struggle on the pavement on his mobile phone. CCTV footage shows two more officers arriving to help restrain Mr Ogboru, who is still struggling.

Eyewitnesses claimed that officers appeared to have their "knees and feet" on him as he "wailed like a dog", pleading he could not breathe. The film appears to show one officer's knee over Mr Ogboru's neck while his head hangs over the kerb. As soon as the officers realise he is dying, they desperately try to revive him, but fail. The official pathology report gave the cause of death as "asphyxia during restraint".

Afterwards, witness Sean Pops, 27, who saw several officers kneeling on Mr Ogboru, said: "The officers were on top of him, you could tell he was in a lot of pain.

"The guy kept saying, 'I can't breathe'."

Mr Ogboru's widow Christy, 40, who wants the police officers charged, said at her home in Nigeria: "My husband is gone. I can't have him but I must have justice. I feel very let down by the system of justice in Britain."

501 DEATHS IN 10 YEARS

No officer has been found guilty over a custody death despite 501 in 10 years.

Four in five victims were black or Asian. Campaigner Deborah Coles said: "There is a pattern of these deaths around black men. But even when an inquest jury finds unlawful killing, the CPS don't prosecute." Here are just five tragic cases.

Giles Freeman, 37 October 2002

Mentally ill chef had heart attack as police restrained him in Slough, Berks.

Roger Sylvester, 30 January 1999

Manic depressive held down by eight cops outside North London home.

Chris Alder, 37 April 1998

Cops laughed as handcuffed ex-Para choked on blood and vomit in Hull.

Ibrahima Sey, 29 March 1996

Cuffed and sprayed with CS gas after domestic row arrest in East London.

Joy Gardner, 43 July 1993

Hit her head after cops wrapped 13ft of tape over her face in North London.

ben


Blog to remember Pauline

16.05.2008 11:24

The 4WardEver Campaign UK in collaboration with Migrant Media (Makers of the film INJUSTICE) have set up a blog to remember Pauline. There's also the possibility of leaving a message of condolence there:

 http://remember-pauline.blogspot.com/

This is so sad news. Pauline has been a great inspiration of how one brave and determined person alone can actually make a difference, despite the obligatory intimidation by the police and the authorities. Pauline lives on in our hearts.

PigBrother.info
- Homepage: http://PigBrother.info


Comments

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Will be missed

15.05.2008 17:31

I met her at a prison protest last year and I was impressed by her energy and dedication. She was a fabulous campaigner who took no stick from anyone.

secretlondon


Very...

15.05.2008 18:34

sad news.

Mark Barnsley


RIP Pauline

15.05.2008 18:56

I only wish I had met this indomitable, remarkable woman when she was alive. A magnificent inspiration to us all.

DaanSaaf


Tragic

15.05.2008 20:09

A wonderful person, a wonderful parent ,a tireless campaigner, terrible news, god bless.

J.P


Inspiring Resister

16.05.2008 00:09

Tragic news.
Inspiring resister.
Challenged by her actions whenever I heard of them.
Prisons are the crime.
When you're in one you're really really in and when you're out the temptation is to bury the experience, move on and leave the other folks behind.
It was wonderful how she responded to her own tragedy with resistance on behalf of others.
Humbled by her solidarity with those still behind bars.

Ciaron O'Reilly
- Homepage: http://www.peaceontrial.com


very sad

16.05.2008 10:05

As many of us I am deeply shocked and sadened by this news. I met her a couple of times at protests and she was wonderful and inspiring. I hope she's at peace now. We'll remember you with great pride Pauline

cats


sad news indeed

16.05.2008 12:34

i felt i had got to know her from her posts on here - persistent and inspirational in her search for truth against the faceless state

Condolences to her family

will miss you Pauline

missing


Condolences from Ireland

16.05.2008 12:51

I received this news from Ciaron and while I did not know the woman I empathise with her story; the story of people who care and voice there concerns courageously being pushed to the margins and burdened with life long discrimination. It brings up the whole issue of support for activists enduring hardship.
But however Pauline found the decks stacked against her in this life; she will find all the doors open for her in the next. May Jesus embrace her on Heavens threshold and re-unite her with her lovely daughter.
Shame on all those who persecute her likes.

paul cassidy
mail e-mail: paul@peacecycle.mobi


Pigs bathe in blood

16.05.2008 12:54

Yet again the Police have blood on their hands. How many more will there be before some action is taken.

Rosa


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This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Slightly contentious

16.05.2008 15:20

Eyewitnesses claimed that officers appeared to have their "knees and feet" on him as he "wailed like a dog", pleading he could not breathe. The film appears to show one officer's knee over Mr Ogboru's neck while his head hangs over the kerb. As soon as the officers realise he is dying, they desperately try to revive him, but fail. The official pathology report gave the cause of death as "asphyxia during restraint".

This is the reason that the CPS will not prosecute; the officers acted properly and 'desperately tried to revive him' one their actions were shown to be jeapordising this chap's life. I know it's a bitter pill to swallow. Positional asphyxia is a very common problem particularly for larger persons something that the police are exensively trained to try and avoid. In this case, tragedy, in 1000's of others no problems. I dont think that any onf you realise how hard it is to restrain a person of a large size particulary if fueled by drink and or drugs. No I am not a police officer but I do know a bit!

No doubt this post will be deleted like some of my others just because they give a more balanced view of what happened and may 'defend' the actions of the police...

Indymedia.org.uk a place for free and balanced speech...i dont think so lol!

RIP chap.

P
mail e-mail: P


A loss to all of us

16.05.2008 20:08

Pauline was genuinely inspirational, a brave and wonderful woman.

Val


How come men who beat women & raracist physcos are allowed2 roam free?

17.05.2008 07:56

Theft is bad, system we live in is based on it, violence & peadophilia are even worse though system seems often slow or protecting abusers. How come though when good citizens protest against climate change & terrorism are regularly arrested in moments?, not as bad as BNPHitler child mass murdering worshippers, but!
The system has blood on its hands, shame on those who support this, no one has to follow orders to a T.
RIP, lets continue the struggle, life is great

Green Syndicalist MEMBER IWW,ICA,


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

How come is Indyshit gtting worse?

18.05.2008 16:26

Indymedia = Pedophiles

Green Sindicalist go and fuck off you the only pedophile here.

Red


Until All Are Free - We Are All Imprisoned!

01.06.2008 22:10

Very sad news indeed to hear of Pauline's death. Pauline will be missed by many of us for her relentless commitment and hunger for justice! Pauline will continue to inspire those of who fight on both inside and out, in Ireland as across our world. All our thoughts are with her friends and family circle at this time.

"If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst!"
James Connolly

John B


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