Raymond Stephenson goes to court today

My friend Raymond Stephenson starts his court case today in the High Court against Southwark Council. This case has been a long time coming. The background to the case has been covered in several recent articles in the South London Press. Raymond's nightclub 'Imperial Gardens' was a cutting edge venue for young black talent in South London and several black performers started their careers there. Round about 2003 I became involved in supporting Raymond's case about the closure of his club. It was clear to me that there was institutional racism at work in Southwark Council (I am a resident of Camberwell where Imperial Gardens was based). Raymond organised several huge deputations and tumultous meetings at the Southwark Council meetings, which involved so much support from the local black community and others that security guards were employed by a clearly frightened Southwark Council, which by that stage was being run by the Lib Dems.

The Council became so defensive that Lord Herman Ouseley, the former Director of the Commission for Racial Equality, was called in to conduct an independent investigation. I gave evidence to his inquiry and was firmly of the opinion that there was instituational racism within the council's structures. Ouseley's report confirmed this and asked the Council to clear up its act - later Ouseley stated that nothing much had changed. In the interim, a number of council officers were questioned by police and others either dismissed or disappeared. But the chief officers and councillors involved in the cover up remained in place.

In 2006 I stood as a Green Party council candidate in Camberwell Green ward, which is where the club was based, and received endorsement from Raymond who stated that I was active in combating racism in Southwark and Camberwell. Raymond also came and spoke at a Green Party event in Oval about what was happening in Southwark. At one point he was even considering joining the Green Party in Southwark but certain other people in Southwark Green Party were less welcoming than I was. We remained in contact and he constantly told me that he would have his day in court - now it has finally arrived. In the interim, Raymond did a lot of work for Operation Trident using videos and music to try and deter young black people from getting involved in shootings and some of his work was really impressive.

Yesterday Lee Jasper, Ken Livingstone's former Advisor on Race, told me that he is giving evidence for Raymond in the High Court. I have been invited to attend the court today but unfortunately because of work I cannot attend until Friday. The case will go on for several weeks. I wish Raymond success, he has been extremely badly treated and he has continued to campaign for justice for 7 years now. Whatever happens, I am sure that some of the evidence will reveal some very unsavoury facts about the workings of Southwark Council between 2002 and 2006.

And further news that Harriet Harman no less has been called to appear as a witness. At the time Harriet was a strong supporter of Raymond and Imperial Gardens but perhaps her enthusisasm has waned now that there is a Labour council!