Smiley Culture

Hundreds of people marched through London today protesting at the death of reggae artist Smiley Culture during a police raid on his house last month.

The protestors walked from Wandsworth to Scotland Yard via Parliament Square asking for justice for Smiley.

Smiley Culture, who made his name with a Lewisham based sound-system, stabbed himself to death after police arrived at his house in Surrey last March.

It has been reported that Culture, whose real name is David Emmanuel, 48, requested to make a cup of tea before being taken to a police station for questioning. Whilst gone, it is believed he used a kitchen knife to kill himsel.

He was on bail for conspiracy to supply cocaine at the time.

But friends and family organised the march today after questioning the circumstances of his death. The organisers have said the protest is also to honour more than 400 other people who have died in police custody.

Merlin Emmanuel, Smiley Culture’s nephew, who is leading the protest alongside other family members, said: “I’m feeling militant. I’m feeling as good as I can under the circumstances. It’s good to see the support of the community here and this is just the beginning of the march.”

The atmosphere was described as peaceful and protesters chanted “no justice, no peace”.