Layla Riley-Hill Poet Free verse

A forgotten victim of the system

An untold story of black British history 

Throughout history our voices have been silenced 
But what happens When they take it further and murder us?
What about those who were permanently silenced?
How will they speak up about how they were 'welcomed' with violence?

But I have a voice and I will speak it
The stories Of the forgotten 
Who were victims 
To a system 
That encouraged police brutality 

David Oluwale
A human being
Someone who contributed a lot to Leeds
This was post war Britain 
He had a multitude of jobs
To clean up a mess 
He had no part of
But none of his contributions mattered
Because he was a black man

Violence against black people was ever present
And whilst many kept quiet 
To avoid the consequences 
Of messing with the system 
But David
David had this fire within him
He wouldn't allow the mistreatment 
Of his people

But they didn't like that
And so they made his life a living hell
And some was locked in a cell
A few times
For the prettiest of petty minor crimes

He was mistreated by the system 
To the point he was left homeless 
And began to have mental problems 
He was put on a diet of largactyl
And was subjected to 
Electro shock therapy
And tossed him on the streets
Where his mental health deteriorated 
They weaponised his mind against him 
They claimed he 'attacked' a couple of policemen 
But we all know what really happened 
I mean the Leeds police were notorious for
Discrimination and racism
Against black people

So are we surprised they claimed he 'attacked' them 
Then those officers Ellerker and kitching
Pushed him into the river and killed him
They claimed it was an 'accident'
But witness statements 
Told a different story
There was a trial but they were never convicted 
The judge said there was a lack of evidence 
Even though there were multiple witnesses 

When he died David was only thirty six
When he became a victim
To a system Who hated him
But I will never let him be forgotten 
I hope one day he will get justice

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