From: "Dave Coull" <d.y.coull-AT-dundee.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:24:38 GMT
Subject: Re: Stephen Lawrence 


Andy asked

>Did anyone else notice the so-called double jeopardy 
>recommendation, whereby they propose an innocent 
>verdict can be sent back for trial if new evidence 
>is uncovered?

Yes I noticed that right away
I'm in favour of taking firm action 
against racists  -  but not in favour
of relying on the state to do it.

>Nice use of an anti-racist bandwagon to bring 
>in a diabolical [yeah I know they're all diabolical] 
>piece of law.

The first Race Relations Act in the UK
was allegedly brought in to deal with 
white racism, but the very first prosecution 
brought under it was of a "black power" 
speaker who was reacting against 
white racism.

The Public Order Act was brought in
allegedly to deal with extreme right wingers
like Sir Oswald Mosley's fascists, but 
its very first use was against left wingers. 

Never trust the state.


Dave