England Riots (2011)
Sat Aug 06, 2011
On this day in 2011, the worst English riots in decades began after a peaceful march demanded justice for the police killing of 29-year old Mark Duggan, beginning an uprising that led to 2,987 arrests and ~£100m of property damage.
Mark Duggan, a young black man, had been shot and killed by police in Tottenham, North London two days earlier, on August 4th. On August 6th, a protest organized by friends and relatives of Duggan marched on the Tottenham Police Department, demanding to speak with senior leadership.
That evening, violence broke out, marking the beginning of a wave of riots that lasted for weeks. The uprising, which spread all throughout England, was characterized by spontaneous acts of violence, the looting of shops, widespread arson (Times Magazine claimed London had not been this on fire since the Blitz), and clashes with police.
One protester, asked by a journalist if rioting was really the best way to accomplish their objectives, responded: "Yes, because if we weren't rioting, you wouldn't be talking to us."
- Date: 2011-08-06
- Learn More: libcom.org, en.wikipedia.org.
- Tags: #Riots, #Protests.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org
