Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Southampton central police station on Saturday to demand justice for Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death by Vickrum Digwa. The demonstration, organised under the banner 'Justice for Henry Nowak', saw clashes with police as crowds marched to the street where Digwa's family lives.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd, accusing Hampshire police of institutional racism. 'If Henry wasn't white, he wouldn't have been handcuffed,' he said. Robinson criticised the force for not handcuffing Digwa despite him being armed with a knife, while Nowak was restrained after being stabbed.
Protesters chanted 'Racist police, off our streets' and 'Shame on you', waving union flags and signs reading 'Henry's blood is on your hands'. Some threw bottles, beer cans and wheelie bins at officers, who used shields to push back the crowd. A police helicopter monitored the scene.
Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, condemned police treatment of his son but urged against using his death to create division. 'We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone,' he said. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the violence 'completely unacceptable', warning that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
