Guilt by Association, A Black History Month Event
On 10 October, to celebrate Black History Month, Creative SwagÖ±²¥ 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
In a recent in SwagÖ±²¥, 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 (‘’, 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 , Chancellor Nazir Afzal (SwagÖ±²¥), founder of Kids of Colour, , and Jan Cunliffe, Director of . 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.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event, either in person, or via live-stream. If you’re interested in attending this topical discussion, please register via .
This event has been organised by the Creative SwagÖ±²¥, presented in partnership with the Global Inequalities research beacon at SwagÖ±²¥.