5 years ago, Brother Tonou-Mbobda was brutally restrained to death in front of the UKE Psychiatric Clinic by security staff of Klinik Logistik & Engeneering GmbH without an actual court order and without supervision of any medical doctor in charge.
On this bitter day for the family, friends and our Black community as a whole, we do not only honour our Brother Tonou-Mbobda, but our thoughts are dedicated especially towards his relatives and the bereaved.
People in mental health crises or in afflicted situations are repeatedly victims of structural violence and institutional discrimination in Germany – too often this violence is fatal and there is regularly no appropriate investigation or propper litigation. Moreover, the victims are generally and reflexively labelled as criminal offenders and „blamed“ responsible for their own deaths in the course of structural cover up of state or other institutions.
Names such as #NDeyeMareameSarr (Aschaffenburg 2001), #DominiqueKoumadiou (Dortmund 2005), #ChristySchwundeck Frankfurt/Main 2011), #AmosThomas (Rohrbach,Bayern 2016), #AmanAlizada (Stade 2019), #MohamedIdrissi (Bremen 2020), #MouhamedLamineDramé (Dortmund 2022) , #LaminTouray (Nienburg/Weser 2024) and many more signify the ongoing deadly violence against people in mental health crises, who were never given professional help or de-escalative empathy, but escalating threats and deadly violence.
When we mourn and commemorate the death of Brother Tonou-Mbobda for the 5th time on Sunday, 21.04.2024, we are also protesting against the structural perpetrator-victim reversal, the systemic cover-up, the ruthless criminalisation of the victims and the habitual impunity for the perpetrators. A system that obviously does’nt seem to be able to draw appropriate consequences from unprofessional mistakes and fatal escalation strategies to bring about change cannot seriously refute the accusation of cross-institutional structural discrimination – then this practises are not only „accepted“, but in principle exactly what is wanted to be executed again and again!
We ask you to join us on this 5th anniversary in front of the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf – UKE to commemorate our brother Tonou-Mbobda.
Please bring flowers, signs and grave candles to make this commemoration a dignified event.
BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY-COALITION FOR JUSTICE AND SELF-DEFENCE AND THE AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DESCENDANT COMMUNITIES IN GERMANY
In a profound state of shock, outrage, and grief, we, the BLACK COMMUNITY-Coalition for Justice and Self-Defence (BCCJSD), alongside the Black, African and African Descendant, Afro German, Indigenous, and POC communities in Germany, are confronted with the stark realities of systemic injustice. This has been tragically highlighted by the events leading to the death of Lamine Touray in Nienburg on March 30, 2024. In a critical moment of mental health crisis, Brother Lamine Touray encountered not the assistance his loved ones desperately sought when reaching out for emergency help but instead was met with excessive force by those called to protect and serve. Despite initial police claims, Lamine had not threatened his girlfriend with a knife — a narrative proven unequivocally false, yet utilized to justify a response so disproportionate that it resulted in eight shots being fired, leading not only to Lamine’s untimely death but also to injuries within the police ranks.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Lamine Touray’s death and the subsequent police response cast a glaring light on deep-seated issues of anti-Black racism and the pervasive, harmful stereotype of the „dangerous Black man.“ Rooted in centuries of racial bias and discrimination, this stereotype continues to endanger Black lives by influencing law enforcement’s perceptions and actions, often resulting in unnecessary and excessive use of force in situations necessitating empathy and assistance. Lamine Touray’s encounter serves as a harrowing reminder of the lethal consequences of such biases. Despite his vulnerable state and the need for mental health support, Lamine’s experience was shaped by entrenched notions of threat and criminality tied to his Black identity.
This event is not isolated but adds to a distressing pattern marked by the deaths of Mouhamed Lamine Dramé in Dortmund in August 2022, and the looming five-year commemoration of Tonou Mbobda’s death at UKE Hospital on April 21st. These incidents collectively underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reform in our approach to mental health crises and policing practices.
The profound delay in securing justice, particularly in cases involving the deaths of Black individuals in Germany, starkly embodies the principle that „justice delayed is justice denied.“ This sluggish progression in addressing and resolving such pivotal matters not only exacerbates the trauma experienced by our communities but also signals a broader systemic failure to afford Black lives equal protection and value on all executive levels. The slow response and extended investigations deepen the sense of injustice and mistrust within the African and African Descendant communities in Germany, highlighting a systemic reluctance, bias or incapacity to promptly and effectively confront the root causes and repercussions of anti-Black racism and police violence. This inaction prolongs the anguish of affected families and communities and perpetuates a cycle of trauma and fear among all Black individuals within these societies.
From repeated and consistant experiences, we fundamentally doubt the system of Police investigating Police or Prosecutions investigating themselves to challenge systemic cognitive dissonance and supremacist ideologies with the authorieties at work in the so called State of Law – where the presumption of innocence is strictly rewarded to perpetraiting officers and pre-judgments regulary allocated to the the victims of state violence and racial discrimination.
Our Unified Call for Action:
1. Comprehensive Support for Lamine Touray’s Family:
We demand immediate and comprehensive support for the family of Lamine Touray, including psychological and grief counseling, legal assistance, and financial support to cover all funeral and memorial expenses. This support should also extend to facilitating any travel and accommodation needs for family members who have come to Germany in their quest for justice and closure.
2. Correction of Misinformation:
We call for the public correction of false narratives surrounding this incident, to restore the dignity of the victim and his family.
3. Direct Dialogue with Authorities:
The family of Lamine Touray must be given opportunities for direct dialogue with investigative authorities and policymakers. This will ensure transparency, allow the family to voice their concerns and questions directly, and engage in the pursuit of justice for Lamine. It is crucial that the family’s voices are heard and respected throughout the investigation and beyond.
4. Community-Led Crisis Intervention:
We advocate for the funding and implementation of community-led programs, prioritizing the expertise of mental health professionals over police intervention in crises.
5. Comprehensive Reform and Education in Policing:
We insist on mandatory, extensive training for all police officers in de-escalation techniques, mental health awareness, and a deep dive into the historical and oppressive origins of policing, particularly its roots in colonialism and slave patrols. Recognizing and addressing this history is crucial for dismantling racial biases and reimagining a policing model that serves and protects all community members with equity and compassion.
As we navigate our collective grief, our resolve for justice, systemic change, and the eradication of racial biases within policing and crisis response systems only intensifies. The tragic killings of Lamine Touray, Mouhamed Lamine Dramé, and Tonou Mbobda are stark reminders of the deep reforms required in our policing and mental health care systems. We stand united in our call to action, seeking clarity, accountability, and justice, and insisting that dignity and humanity guide our society’s approach to the well-being of every individual.
Justice For Lamine Touray
Touch One – Touch All!
Signatories: BCCJSD Black Community Hamburg ARRiVATi Alafia Akonda e.V. Africa Home Africa Survival in Hamburg Tschobe for Freedom Africans From Ukraine Sisters in Struggle Black Media Group
