In the week temperatures soared across the UK, and we could finally go out with some friends to enjoy it, big news stories just kept on coming. As the end of this hellish era draws ever nearer, we again steer well clear of any COVID-related stories which might bring us down - after all, there's more to life than lockdown.
This time, our moment of the week was provided by Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya, who debuted on US show Saturday Night Live with a witty monologue about racism:
Fred Hampton would be proud...
The biggest story of the week was the announcement of an investigation into rape culture in schools, after thousands of young people (mostly women) described their shocking experiences of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment on the website Everyone's Invited. A number of schools mentioned in the testimonies have already pledged to take action, but it will take a decisive review and subsequent legislation to shed light on and properly deal with this issue. The government cannot leave social responsibility issues like this up to the private (public school) sector, as they have done in previous years, else the issue will inevitably persist - and that is not an option. Stay tuned for a new perspective on this issue, coming soon to Undefined.
Backlash also continued this week after the controversial report into racial and ethnic disparities in the UK was released, with No.10's most senior Black advisor Samuel Kasumu resigning, having previously noted his displeasure at the government's attitude towards race. Critics have continued to launch attacks at the review, with Labour MP Clive Lewis even comparing the commissioners to members of the KKK - that particular assessment is, perhaps, a tad harsh. With the authors being forced to defend their review, we now wait to see if the Government itself accepts their recommendations, which seems likely, and will inevitably attract further negative judgement.
Elsewhere this week, a Met police officer was found guilty on terrorism charges, after he was discovered to be a member of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action. PC Ben Hannam became the first police officer to be convicted as a terrorist, and was found to possess Nazi propaganda, material detailing how to make an explosive device, and a diary detailing his commitment to the far-right group's white supremacist ideology. The conviction raises serious questions over the police's vetting process, as well as their monitoring of right-wing extremist groups like this, which are on the rise in the UK.
Over in the States, headlines were largely dominated by the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of murdering George Floyd last year, after he knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes. In what is set to be a landmark civil rights case, the defence is arguing that it was intoxication and a heart condition which killed Floyd, not the knee of a White police officer using excessive force. Though I, along with the majority of those blessed with the gift of sight, harbour no doubt about Mr Chauvin's guilt of second-degree murder, I am sadly not as confident the jury will agree - I worry they may see third-degree murder, or even manslaughter, as more appropriate, and that justice will not be done in this case, as it is not done for too many other Black people in the criminal justice system. Regardless of the outcome, Derek Chauvin in prison alone is not enough - we cannot forget that justice requires change, too.
Also in the US, the Capitol suffered another devastating attack this week, after a car rammed into police, killing one officer and injuring another - the suspect, 25-year-old Noah Green, was shot dead at the scene after he produced a knife and lunged at officers. Though the incident is thought to be isolated and not terror-related, the motivation is still unknown, with Mr Green's mental state and possible extremist views being examined, after his online activity mentioned "afflictions" and a black nationalist religious organisation, Nation of Islam.
In the Middle East, cargo ship the Ever Given was finally freed this week, after almost seven days grounded in the Suez Canal. At last, the ship behind carrying 20 containers full of sex toys can reach it's destination, to the great relief of all those waiting - next time you'll be sure to order good old British-made pleasure! #Brexit
And finally, this week trans and nonbinary people celebrated the twelfth International Transgender Day of Visibility, with Joe Biden becoming the first US President to mark the day, saying in a statement, "Transgender Day of Visibility recognizes the generations of struggle, activism, and courage that have brought our country closer to full equality for transgender and gender non-binary people in the United States and around the world.", after he repealed the ban on trans people entering the US military imposed by Donald Trump last month. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, remained silent, continuing his lack of support for trans and nonbinary people after he scrapped plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act last summer. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
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