On Saturday 16th March ‘Riots Reframed’ had its premier screening at Bethnal Green York Hall. As the hall filled up you got the feeling that you were in for a special night. To welcome everyone rap group Rebel Lions performed a small but powerful set on stage. Then as the lights came down and the film started to play the audience were fixed on the screen and there was complete silence.
The film covered the riots from many different angles from the murder of Mark Duggan by the police, the looting that took place in London, to this government’s continuous bombing, killing, invasion of countries across the world and their use of the prison system and the sense of community that people felt. All of theses issues were given voice by a number of people within our society including rappers, poets, academics, community workers, former prisoners and the general public.
As the documentary came to a close it was time for the Q and A with the director Fahim Alam and a number of people that were interviewed such as Akala, Zena Edwards, Sara El Sheekh, Paul Gilroy, Imran Khan and DJ Steaz. Both the panelists and audience were very passionate about the topics that the documentary covered. The questions and statements covered subjects about the riots; from the government and police’s use of force, to racism and colonization.
So for those of you that did not get a chance to come down to the opening night make sure you keep an eye on the website Riots Reframed for further information about future screening dates.
