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Brixton Riots 1981

The police started the 1981 Brixton riots. A community already under pressure was driven over the edge by a heavy handed racist stop and search operation specifically targeting young black men. Tension between youth and police built up and finally boiled over on Friday 10th April 1981. The police, totally out of touch with local feeling, were unprepared. They had to grab dustbin lids from the street for protection. There was no plan. The police behaviour that followed was uncontrolled and outrageous. 

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Brixton riots, London 1981.
Brixton riots, London 1981.
Railton Road, Brixton - the Frontline. Rioting July 1981.
Railton Road, Brixton - the Frontline. Rioting July 1981.
2017-04-12-0006 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0006 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
71-1111 Brixton Police & Burning Car
71-1111 Brixton Police & Burning Car
71-1112 Brixton Police Van Passing Fire
71-1112 Brixton Police Van Passing Fire
7.15-30 Riot Police Brixton '81
7.15-30 Riot Police Brixton '81
71-1114 Brixton Youth Runs By Flames
71-1114 Brixton Youth Runs By Flames
7.15-33 Youth faces riot police during Brixton riots.
7.15-33 Youth faces riot police during Brixton riots.
Brixton riots, London April 1981
Brixton riots, London April 1981
P34-26 Brixton Riot 1981
P34-26 Brixton Riot 1981
71-1113b Brixton Police And Firemen
71-1113b Brixton Police And Firemen
71-1117 Burning car barricade Brixton
71-1117 Burning car barricade Brixton
Brixton riots 1981
Brixton riots 1981
Police With Pickaxe Handles 7.15-6
Police With Pickaxe Handles 7.15-6
Brixton Riots sparked by oppressive Swamp '81 operation. Police arrest youth after attack by plain clothes officers with pick...
Brixton Riots sparked by oppressive Swamp '81 operation. Police arrest youth after attack by plain clothes officers with pickaxe handles on people sheltering in Electric Lane. available on request. Credit is required. No part of this photo to be stored, reproduced, manipulated or transmitted by any means without permission.
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
P34-33 Brixton riots 1981
P34-33 Brixton riots 1981
P37-33x Brixton Riots 1981
P37-33x Brixton Riots 1981
Brixton 81 Looting BW
Brixton 81 Looting BW
Railton Road, Brixton - the Frontline. Rioting overwhelmed police aftera man was stabbed during the deliberately oppressive S...
Railton Road, Brixton - the Frontline. Rioting overwhelmed police aftera man was stabbed during the deliberately oppressive Swamp 81 operation targetting black youth.
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
7.118/4 A moment of calm during the Brixton riots sparked by the oppressive "Swamp '81"police operation targetting black youth.
7.118/4 A moment of calm during the Brixton riots sparked by the oppressive "Swamp '81"police operation targetting black youth.
715-5a Brixton 1981
715-5a Brixton 1981
715-235 Brixton 1981
715-235 Brixton 1981
715-78 Brixton 1981
715-78 Brixton 1981
2017-04-12-0200 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0200 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0084 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0084 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
715-212 Brixton 1981
715-212 Brixton 1981
Brixton riots 1981
Brixton riots 1981
2017-04-12-0172 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0172 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0184 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0184 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0199 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0199 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0028 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0028 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0047 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0047 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0118 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0118 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0201 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0201 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
P35-37 Brixton riots 1981.
P35-37 Brixton riots 1981.
2017-04-12-0202 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0202 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0203 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Brixton Riots 1981 Looting 2017-04-12-0203 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0204 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0204 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0205 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
2017-04-12-0205 Brixton uprising triggered by oppressive policing 1981.
Burning Store Brixt
Burning Store Brixt
71-1116 Burning store Brixton
71-1116 Burning store Brixton
715-123a Brixton riots 1981
715-123a Brixton riots 1981
715-187 Brixton Police & Burning Store
715-187 Brixton Police & Burning Store
715-189 Brixton Riots 1981
715-189 Brixton Riots 1981
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