Joseph was arrested at the Notting Hill Carnival | Pic: Wikimedia Commons

A Brixton activist is due in City of London Magistrates Court on Friday 24 November for allegedly assaulting a police officer despite pleading his innocence.

Tumaini Joseph was arrested on August 28 at Notting Hill Carnival.

Joseph, however, disputes this, telling The Voice that he was assaulted.

He spent the night in hospital after this encounter during which several officers allegedly “jumped on his chest on two occasions, causing lasting damage to his wrist and causing damage to his personal property.”

Joseph, who graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2016, is a known activist who promotes black empowerment in his community.

He runs a study group for young black people who want to learn about their history.

He also works at the Afruika Bantu Saturday school as a Science teacher with children from underprivileged backgrounds and he frequently attends peaceful protests.

One family member said: “During the week, he works in a high school, and is responsible for children with complex behavioural issues.

“He had hoped to return to university, complete his Masters and pursue a career in scientific research, but is concerned that a criminal record or charges being brought against him could jeopardise those plans.”

The family had called on community groups to attend a protest that took place on Friday, 17 November in the Karibu Education Centre in Gresham Road.

They want all charges against Joseph to be dropped immediately.

In posters advertising the community rally, with the motto ‘Touch one, Touch All’, the organisers say: “Tumaini Joseph was subjected to an unprovoked attack by the police…To cover up their unlawful actions, the police charged the young man with assaulting them…

“The attack is typical of the general onslaught against our young people highlighted by MP David Lammy in his recent report that exposes the racial criminalisation and disproportionate stop and search practices.

“Our community must come together to end this injustice and support our youth.”

Lammy wrote an article this year on The Guardian about this issue titled ‘The racial bias in our justice system is creating a social timebomb.’