Hundreds of people gathered outside Southampton central police station on Saturday to protest the murder of Henry Nowak, with dozens clashing with police near the home of his killer, Vickrum Digwa. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson was among speakers addressing the crowd at the 'Justice for Henry Nowak' demonstration.
Protesters chanted 'Racist police, off our streets' and 'Shame on you', holding union flags and signs reading 'Henry's blood is on your hands' and 'Save our kids'. A few hundred then marched to the area where the murder took place, where police held them back from entering Digwa's street. Some protesters hurled bottles, beer cans and wheelie bins at officers.
After Digwa was jailed, Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, condemned the 'inhumane and degrading' treatment of his son by police but said: 'We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.'
Robinson accused Hampshire police of institutional racism, claiming: 'If Henry wasn't white, he wouldn't have been handcuffed.' He added: 'A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn't.' Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK Independence Party, said: 'The arresting officers believed persecuting him was more important than saving him because he was white.'
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the scenes, stating: 'The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry's death be used to create further division, hatred or tension. There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder.'
