14 year old Dea-John was racially abused, including being called the N-word, before being chased and stabbed to death.
Photo: Dea-John Reid, courtesy of his family.
A vigil will be held this evening in Cardiff for Dea-John Reid, the 14 year old Black teen who was stabbed to death in Kingstanding, Birmingham, on 31 May, in a racist attack.
Black Lives Matter Cardiff and Vale are organising the event, which will take place at 6.30pm on Friday, at the Aneurin Bevan statue, Queen St.
The stabbing took place on the Bank Holiday Monday after the 14 year old Black teen had been playing football with his friends.
Dea-John and his friends were subject to racist language, which is also understood to have included the N-word.
Police investigating the murder said that the racist abuse escalated, before Dea-John was chased down a busy road in north Birmingham and stabbed in the chest. He died at the scene.
West Midland Police have said they are investigating the racist motive behind the attack.
However, the day after Dea-John Reid was stabbed to death, the force released a statement that denied racism played a role, despite mounting eyewitness testimony. “At the moment, there is nothing to suggest that this is a racially motivated attack,” they said.
But a day later, West Midlands Police said that “racist language was directed at Dea-John and his friends” prior to his murder.
Separately, the Birmingham Mail have also reported that there are claims that Dea-John told police he had received Snapchat death threats five days before his death.
Five people, including two men in their thirties, have been charged with murdering the 14 year old. A trial is expected in February 2022.
On Sunday 6th June, on the spot where Dea-John was killed, a huge crowd gathered to mourn his death.
His mother, Joan Morris, his brother Kirk Bryan and close relatives turned out with over a thousand others.
They said they wanted “everybody to come together, all races, everybody to come together and stand in solidarity.” Two local MPs also attended the multiracial event.
Bishop Desmond Jaddoo, who has been supporting Dea-John’s family, said before the vigil: “Everyone has gathered to show their support for Dea-John’s family but also the community and community of Kingstanding which has felt this immensely.”
“We are standing in unity, love and ensuring that his death is not in vain.”
Desmond Jaddoo has also organised a fundraising appeal on behalf of Joan Morris, Dea-John’s mother.
The Cardiff vigil will take place at 6.30pm today (Friday), at the Aneurin Bevan statue, Queen St.
