Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
A void in all our lives – remembering Roger Sylvester and one family’s fight for justice
LOUISE RAW pays tribute to a ‘caring and thoughtful’ black council worker whose life was tragically cut short after he was restrained face down in the street by police outside his Tottenham home 20 years ago
Roger Sylvester’s mother Sheila pictured on a silent march of remembrance to 10 Downing Street in 2001

ON Saturday 22 July last year, a police officer chased 20-year-old Rashan Charles into a shop in Hackney. Charles was allegedly acting suspiciously.

Grabbing Charles from behind, the officer threw him face down and jumped on him, holding him down. The dangers of face-down restraint are well known to police: it can cause positional asphyxia, and is supposed to be avoided. 

By the time he was handcuffed, Charles was limp and unresponsive. He died there, on the tiled floor of a convenience store on Hackney’s Kingsland Road. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Matchwomen
Features / 20 June 2025
20 June 2025

The Morning Star invites readers to join Jeremy Corbyn and others to celebrate a working-class female victory that echoes through the ages

Moronic billionaire Elon Musk is shown during a live video l
Features / 31 January 2025
31 January 2025
LOUISE RAW reports back from the United States on the dystopian future its ruling tycoons have planned for us – and our need to take a stand against the far right in Britain now
Features / 11 December 2024
11 December 2024
LOUISE RAW speaks to Long Covid sufferer Sam Williams and others who feel let down by a state that ignores their debilitating illness
Anti -racism protesters demonstrate in Brentford, London, Au
Features / 9 August 2024
9 August 2024
While Wednesday night’s glorious anti-fascist turnout up and down the country was a heartening sight, the far right will seek revenge for their humiliation – our anti-racism work needs to kick up a gear, argues LOUISE RAW
Similar stories
Helen Lumuanganu the mother of Chris Kaba hugs friends along
Britain / 21 October 2024
21 October 2024
Campaigners outraged after cop who shot and killed Chris Kaba is cleared of murder