struggles in a decisively political manner. Nothing is likely to demoralise people more, and dispel a movement faster than to be continuously fighting for something that does not solve your problems. Nothing On the morning of Thursday, 13 July, at about 4 a.m., police officers from Notting Hill/Notting Dale police stations sealed off the section of All Saints Road, Notting Hill, in which the Mangrove Restaurant is situated.
The Mangrove has for years been an object of police harassment. Two years ago the black community responded with a demonstration which was attacked by police in Portall Road. The attacks led to the famous 'Mangrove" trial last autumn.
On July 13th the police converged on the restaurant and informed Jean Caboussel a waiter at the restaurant, that he was under arrest. They claimed to be executing a warrant against Caboussel for failing to surrender his bail at the Inner London Session on Wednesday, 5 July. But in fact he surrendered his bail on 6 July and had been re-bailed on condition that he sign on at Notting Dale police station daily. This he had done.
The police were repeatedly told that they were making an illegal arrest, that no such warrant could possibly exist, that Caboussel was in fact bailed and sigining-on daily. But they insisted on arresting him, meanwhile hurling the filthiest abuse at staff and customers. They later released Caboussel having claimed to have radioed Notting Dale police station. No apology was forthcoming. The arrest of Caboussel was a severe provcation of the staff and customers of the Mangrove Restaurant. The police blocked off the street in a dramatic military style, ready for confrontation. They had no right there, nor is it easy to believe that they were unaware of the fact that they were making an illegal arrest. That a major incident was averted had nothing to do with the attitude of the police, who were distinctly hostile. It was due simply to the sense of order and organisation of the Mangrove staff and customers.
This incident is a sign of the fact that despite its defeats in the Mangrove Nine and Metro Four cases the State intends to continue its harassment of organised black groups. In this context the following statement by the Mangrove management committee is particularly important: "We warn the Home Secretary and the Government of this country that we have reached the end of our tether. Years of harassment and eleven weeks at the Old Bailey (Mangrove trial) have taken its toll. We serve notice that any future attempts by the police to illegally assault and arrest any member of staff, customer or member of the community, will be met with the resistance necessary to defend our fundamental human rights." It is the job of revolutionaries to fight for solidarity, particularly from the labour movement, with black people organising to defend themselves against such attacks.
Notting Hill IMG.