State Violence & Justice: Bereaved Families
A conversation between:
Imogen Day
Ajibola Lewis
Anna Susianta
05/11/2023
11:00 – 13:00
ICF @ Block 336
336 Brixton Road
London SW9 7AA
Description
This conversation between Imogen Day, Ajibola Lewis and Anna Susianta will centre families who have lost loved ones to connecting forms of state violence – across policing, mental health systems and the welfare system. It will create space to share different understandings of justice – exploring whether this can come from the state and/or from beyond the state; different strategies; and different journeys of healing. There will also be a 45-minute resourcing and aftercare support session to support those joining the conversation.
This event will be BSL interpreted.
Biographies
Ajibola Lewis is Seni’s Mother – a proud mother of three children and two grandsons. She is a former teacher and lawyer who now spends her time campaigning for accountability and justice in the many cases concerning deaths in state custody across the UK. Aji also works alongside her family to embed The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) act 2018, or Seni’s Law, in all mental health units across the country and to bring more awareness to mental health and human rights violations happening in the UK. Aji currently works with multiple organisations including the charity INQUEST, UFFC, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, The Restraint Reduction Network National Steering group, BILD, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, CPI, Bethlem Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University, All Wales People First, Black Thrive, Colourful Minds, LSC NHS Foundation Trust, WCEN, WREN, CNTW Trust, the Association of Black Psychiatrists, NSUN and Healing Justice Ldn to eliminate the unnecessary use of restraint and restrictive practices both on a local, national and international level.
Anna Susianta’s 17-year-old son, Komang Jack Susianta, was killed by police in 2015 whilst suffering a mental health crisis.
Imogen Day is the sister of Philippa Day, who died in 2019 after 28 mistakes were made in her PIP application. Imogen has campaigned for disability benefit reform ever since – working with Dispatches, Disability News Service, the Museum of Austerity, Rethink Mental Illness and Healing Justice London.
