THE sister of a black man who died after being restrained by police in Fife has said Scotland is a racist country.
Kadi Johnson made the comment as an inquiry into the death of her brother, Sheku Bayoh, is underway in Edinburgh.
The 31-year-old died after being held by officers who were responding to a call in Kirkcaldy in May 2015.
Johnson told the inquiry earlier this week she no longer feels safe living in Scotland after her brother’s death, and she fears for her children and nieces and nephews.
She, and her family, believe race played a role in Bayoh’s death.
“Scotland is a place that I once loved and I felt safe in, but since my brother’s death I don’t feel safe anymore,” Johnson told the BBC’s The Sunday Show.
Asked if Scotland was a racist country, she made a stern facial expression before replying: “Yes, I am afraid I will say yes.
READ MORE: Fewer than half of Scots support keeping monarchy
“Because the way we have been treated, when my brother died, instead of the police coming to tell me exactly how my brother died, it was just lies they told me from the start, so there’s no trust, I don’t trust them anymore.”
She spoke about her experience with racism in relation to police, but said it also factors in other parts of her life such as school and in the workplace.
“Scotland still has a lot of work to do around racism,” Johnson said.
“We who are in it, feel it.
“We know what we are going through on a daily basis.
“It is different from a white person and we have seen it in our workplaces, our schools.”
Johnson added: “For this to change, it starts from the grassroots, which is the schools.
“Start from the schools and work your way up because it’s happening there.
READ MORE: Labour deny U-turn on Anas Sarwar council coalition pledge
“Black and ethnic minority children are experiencing that and it goes up to us, the adults.”
Earlier this week, the public inquiry heard Chief Constable Iain Livingstone believes that Police Scotland needs to be “anti-racist”.
Maria Maguire QC, representing him, told the hearing: “The chief constable is aware that it is not enough to be alert to racism and deal with it on a case-by-case basis when it comes to light.
“Nor is it enough simply to be non-racist.
“Police Scotland needs to be anti-racist.”
The inquiry also heard Livingstone had been “powerfully affected” by words from Johnson.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel