In line with the first National Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981, Serendipity Remembers the events surrounding the New Cross Massacre.

The New Cross House Fire, which took place on 18 January 1981 in southeast London, tragically killed thirteen young Black people. A tragedy that sparked community outrage due to disheartening silence from national leaders, politicians and police.

During a party celebrating the birthdays of Yvonne Ruddock and Angela Jackson, a fire broke out in the early hours of the morning, resulting in the deaths of thirteen Black people aged between 14 and 22. Their names are: Andrew Gooding, Owen Thompson, Patricia Johnson, Patrick Cummings, Steve Collins, Lloyd Hall, Humphrey Geoffrey Brown, Rosaline Henry, Peter Campbell. Gerry Paul Francis, Glenton Powell, Paul Ruddock, Yvonne Ruddock and Anthony Berbeck.

In the aftermath, speculation of the attack’s racial motivation via petrol bombing struck a disconcerting shift in the police investigation.

Consequently, police began a murder investigation, ruling out a racial motive due to alleged lack of evidence, instead focusing whether a fight at the party had been the cause of the fire.

As a result, survivors, grieving family and friends of those who passed were prodded for information about the events transpiring on the 18 January, treated like suspects rather than victims. In response, family members and activists founded the New Cross Massacre Action Committee, raising funds to support those affected and protested the police’s mismanagement of the investigation inaccurate media coverage.

The initial coroner’s inquest into the cause of death resulted in an open verdict; no one was found to be responsible for the fire. Press coverage often blamed people at the party and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher took five weeks to respond to a letter condemning the government’s lack of action. The Queen remained silent on the matter.

Lack of national attention frustrated relatives and activists leading to the campaign slogan: “13 dead, nothing said.”

Activist Darcus Howe and others organised the National Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981 with and estimated turnout of 20,000 people marching through central London for their cause.

Despite this, long standing tension between police and the Black community in South London continued to rise and a month later the Brixton Uprising, also known as the “Brixton Riots” broke out. Triggered by Police brutality, the protestors burned buildings and fought with police, leading to the injury of over 300 people. Many refused the verdict of the initial inquest and for decades the New Cross Fire Families’ Committee campaigned for a second inquest. A new inquest was started in 2002, following the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence as attitudes of the Metropolitan Police began to shift.

The result was published in 2004 providing another open verdict; meaning no definitive answers and those affected still don’t know the truth.

Image: Marcher carrying an image of Owen Wesley Thompson during the Black People’s Day of Action
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Marcher-carrying-an-image-of-Owen-Wesley-Thompson-during-the-Black-Peoples-Day-of_fig1_352638573
Author: Vron Ware
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Edits: Added caption and vignette.