Thousands of people gathered in Southampton after the shocking body camera footage of Henry Nowak's last minutes of life was released. The protests were a powerful demonstration against police action and a demand for justice for the 18-year-old student.
Just 24 hours after police body cameras published the streets of Southampton were filled with protesters. Hundreds, by some estimates over a thousand people, gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station under the slogan ”Justice for Henry Nowak”, reports UK News.
Body cameras sparked the anger
The background is the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death last December by the Sikh Vickrum Digwa. Body camera footage released after the verdict shows Henry repeatedly trying to get police help while bleeding from his stab wounds.
In the movie, Henry is heard saying:
- I have been stabbed.
At the same time, a police officer responds mockingly:
- I don't think so, buddy.
Henry also repeated several times:
- I can't breathe.
Despite this, he was handcuffed while Digwa, later convicted of murder, attracted police attention after his claims of a racist attack.
Thousands gathered outside the police station
The demonstration started at around 6pm on Tuesday evening. People from Southampton and other parts of the country gathered outside the police station with British flags, photographs of Henry and placards calling for justice. Several participants also came from the local Polish community.
The crowd held a minute of silence for the murdered student. During the evening, there were also cries of shame directed at the police, while many protesters demanded that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
”I can't breathe”
During the protests, demonstrators were heard shouting:
- I can't breathe.
The words referred to Henry's own distress call in the body camera footage. Protesters also called on police to:
- Take a knee.
Later, groups of protesters themselves took a knee near the spot where Henry was stabbed to death. This was a clear reference to the anti-white Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 after George Floyds death, where politically correct people all over the world (including the current Prime Minister Keir Starmer) went down on their knees as an expression of submission.
Outside the police station, several speeches were made. One speaker called for the police officers responsible to be fired and prosecuted. The same speaker also called for Henry's family to be compensated.
The evening ended in confrontations
As darkness fell, tensions rose. Riot police were deployed and several clashes were reported between protesters and police. Videos from the scene show objects being thrown at police lines while officers used pepper spray.
According to reports, garbage cans were set on fire and rolled towards police cordons. An unmarked police vehicle was surrounded by protesters while other groups continued towards the area where Henry lost his life. At least one person was arrested during the evening.
Strong support on social media
On X and other social media, support for the protesters dominated. Many described the protests as an expression of popular anger that a dying young man was being treated as a suspect while his cries for help were ignored.
Videos of the evening were quickly circulated and commented on as evidence that the anger following the body camera revelations has now reached a boiling point. For many, the death of Henry Nowak has become a symbol of the demand for accountability, justice and a full review of police actions.
