A coalition of BLM and Black led Groups from across the UK have called an emergency protest and vigil for Owami Davies on Friday 26th August 6pm at the Croydon University hospital. We are also working with other organisations to make sure this demonstration is a collective effort. Our young sister has now been missing for 7 weeks and we are supporting the family in raising awareness at this difficult time. It is important that organisations like ours bare the weight of amplifying their voices and getting the message out there.
Owami left her home on 4th July and was reported missing on 6th July. It has now been exposed in a Sunday newspaper by Black journalist Melissa Sigodo, that the police were called to a house in Croydon on 6th July and made contact with Owami and spoke to her directly but, the missing person’s report had not been recorded on police systems so no further action was taken and Owami is still missing. We cannot continue to tolerate the nonchalant way in which the police deal with Black missing people. There is a stark contrast to the way in which non Black missing cases are given a higher priority. The delays in police protocols is hurting our communities and potentially being a cause of loss of life. This is blatant racism. There is a mountain of evidence on institutional racism in our police forces and it is our responsibility to continue to call it out.
Owami Davies is a vulnerable young woman who should have been prioritised as a matter of urgency. We believe that had Owami not been a Black woman, she would have been found by now. Instead, the police are now chasing their tales and doing PR tours of the radio and TV news programmes, but they are not able to offer any new useful information. They have stated that Owami could be travelling around on trains, but they have not released any CCTV to back this up. Every interview they give raises more and more questions which they don’t answer and that results in the triggering of Black communities. Many groups and community spokespeople have contacted us around the way this case has been handled so far. The police should apologise for the mishandling of this case and pledge to change their attitude towards Black people as a first step to rebuilding the severed relationship between them and Black communities.
We are responding to the calls from our communities and allies to take to the streets and make our voices heard in the hope that this will generate more publicity for Owami Davies so that she can be returned to her home safely. And we speak for all other missing Black and vulnerable people and we hope as many people will join us in solidarity as possible.
Delia Mattis
Black Lives Matter