The Riots, by a 12 year old

Elias Wachenje August 11, 2011 75

People feel the police sparked these riots in Tottenham when they shot Mark Duggan in the chest. He did have a real gun but did not fire a shot at the police. Some think that the bullet wedged in the police radio was misleading information planted by the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) to justify his murder. In my opinion this was a cold-blooded killing.

But what happened afterwards was unacceptable. The family organised a protest in Tottenham and finished outside the police station. They waited outside the station for five hours and the police didn’t come out to speak to them.

So the family got ticked off and ‘tensions boiled over’ according to the BBC. So as the aggression heightened and turned into a riot. Youths went out looting shops and torching cars. They seized the opportunity to get some trainers and not to riot in defence of Mark Duggan. And so the UK Riots began…

Youths raided JD, Foot Locker and Curry’s across South London. I feel this completely defeats the point. It makes us look like thugs who want to look good and play XBOX360’s. In Clapham the only shop that wasn’t looted was ‘Waterstones.’ No joke.

We steal trainers but not books. What are trainers going to do for us in life?

In Brixton they looted Vodafone but left the library…

The rioters have misrepresented the young community by attacking pointlessly and gaining goods that aren’t going to help them. A valid cause for protest has become a mass free for all shopping spree.

Elias Wachenje, 12 Years Old

TAGS » 12 year old, Live magazine, the riots, trainers, TVs

POSTED IN » London Riots, Real Life

About the author: Elias Wachenje View all posts by Elias Wachenje

I am 12 years olds and a contributor for Live Magazine, across the magazine and the website. I wrote my first online piece "The Riots, by a 12 year old" which has been tweeted about and read all round the world.

http://www.facebook.com/rebecca.pattinson Rebecca Pattinson

Inspired writing from someone so young.
Solocypher

Fantastic bit of commentary “In Clapham the only shop that wasn’t looted was ‘Waterstones.’ No joke.” Well done for being an inspiring voice of youth and your generation.
Craigtechno

Beautiful articulate and hones piece of writing. you are a credit to yourself, your family and society Elias. Peace, Love and more power to you.
http://twitter.com/All4Av Avalon

While we have youths like you, not all hope is lost
http://twitter.com/happeningfish johanna macdonald

I totally want to send you a book for writing that. Seriously… any chance?
Anonymous

This is terrific writing, and an argument worth hearing.
Anonymous

This is terrific writing, and an argument worth hearing.
Andrea

That’s very kind of you Johanna. We’ll make sure Elias see’s these comments…
Sars

“He did have a real gun” – you do realise that this is illegal right? And if he refused to drop his weapon, regardless of whether he used it, he is liable to be shot?
You choose to break the law, you choose the consequences.
http://twitter.com/GreenDayAngel Ashley B

I was brought here by Neil Gaiman. Nice job
http://twitter.com/Oyinldn Oyin Akiniyi

Great Article Elias!
Anon

Mostly a nice piece but your opening paragraph too full of conjecture. You claim that the IPCC are guilty of placing misleading info. Where is your proof. Also your point about the Police being “Gutless” for not coming out and speaking to the protesters. Yes it wasn’t handled the best way but in my opinion (we all have them and they’re all valid) having a discussion about a loss of life would probably be best done in a calm and private place and not where discussion can be overrun by emotion. And as one of the other commenters said; He was carrying a firearm and you have to assume he would have been ready to use it. How much risk do you allow the police to take in a situation like this?
Bearfilth

how r u gonna make money from selling books. its simple economics man. And for your information the riot was sparked by the police brutalising a 16 year old girl after the peaceful demonstration! I think its more of the establishment —-in over the youth and now the youth are sayin —- you too. It http://beta.live-magazine.co.uk/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comment-37http://beta.live-magazine.co.uk/wp-admin/comment.php?action=editcomment&c=41really is that simple, and in times of war all is fair!
Bearfilth

fool you assume and make an ass of yourself. what if he did not have a gun but there was a gun in the car. what if the passenger had the gun. There is no evidence to suggest he had a gun on his person. in fact the gun was found after he was wresteld to the ground and shot dead! The gun was also in a sock, and if you know anything about these things you will know that in this scenario it is concealed and not ready for use. So all of the police reaction was born out of suspicion. lets say i tell the police you have a gun, would you expect them to shoot you first before any questions are asked??
Think about it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=725042746 Jill Robertson

Perhaps people respect books?
Alanna

Elias, this is strong and thoughtful writing. Thank you for sharing your perspective and giving some humanity to the news clips we’ve been watching in the States.

Font be shaken or angered by negative comments. You already took the high road when you typed about the riots instead of participating – keep it up!
Alanna

Bah! Sorry for the typo! DON’T be shaken or angered…
http://twitter.com/LiveMagUK LIVE MAGAZINE

Amazing, great feedback Elias
Elias Wachenje

Hi people. This is Elias speaking. I appreciate all your feedback. True the Police did brutalise that girl too. Thanks! I like what you’ve said Anon! Where is my proof???
Elias Wachenje

Very kind! Thanks!
Elias Wachenje

Thanks again dude! You guys are awesome!
Elias Wachenje

Yeah!
Elias Wachenje

Thanks!
Elias Wachenje

Thanks!
Benjamin Wachenje

Well done Elias, You make your mum and I very proud. Keep working hard up there. =)
Elias Wachenje

Who’s he?
Elias Wachenje

I don’t appreciate the swearing dude…
Otherwise good comment…
Elias Wachenje

Cool!
Elias Wachenje

Thanks! I dont let them knock me down…
Realtalk

@ Bearfilth In the war, maybe a better long term strategy is Self education, self empowerment. I think that was the point about books. We cant go around shottin’ trainers for ever. Maybe some of the loot people are stealing will only weigh them down on life’s battlefield. I don’t think the maths is that simple. Educate and empower yourself. Build a legitimate business, then give back to your community. The government will leave us to rot. Easy come money is easy go money.
http://www.victoriamiller.cl Sofia idiel

Neil Gaiman is considered una of the 10 most important alive USA writers. He wrotr “Coraline”, “The book of the Cementery”, Neverwhere, American Gods and the incredible comics series The Sandman. He read your article and published on his twitter account @neilhimself:disqus
Kelly

He’s a famous novelist and comic book writer.
truthteller

A twelve year old with something to say. That is inspiring and puts those looting youths to shame. No one has time for a rebel without a cause and the pen is always mightier than the sword. Agreed the article is probably not all factually correct, but good to know a boy of this age is switched on to the media analysis going on. Bearfilth – I hear what you are saying about the sixteen year old girl. However, no one steals books because they have no resale value? That is naive. Theft is wrong period. Stealing is wrong period. If it isn’t yours what are you doing with it? Period.If you are selling stuff, why are you trying it on? The only thing those trainers, tvs and phones are going to do is keep them further enslaved in a consumerist bubble of never having enough ‘stuff’. Books and reading can set you free.
KD

You’re awesome, Elias. I like how you cut straight to the heart of the matter. These looters are hopelessly selfish, but it’s a relief to know that there are young folks like you out there with their heads on straight. Much love to you and your family, and keep safe!
Monica

agree with avalon, very impressed by your writing at such a tender age, and your viewpoint is wise beyond your years
Mariana del Rocío Hernández Ve

People around the world seem to have an opinion, the other day I read something that said “you call it riot, I call it resurrection” written by a mexican, how do you feel about foreign people having opinions like this?
Forjanesimmons

Do you know, this is the FIRST piece I have read on the riots that explains, in succinct and precise terms, what exactly it was that led to the initial “tensions boiling over.” Mr. Wachenje, I think a lot of “adult” journalists could learn from your article – a primer on How It Should Be Done.

Thank you for illustrating that there are people today who are able to think critically and constructively. I started to say “young people today” but in all honesty, I’m not sure many adults are “getting it” either…
http://www.teenlibrarian.co.uk Matthew Imrie

Phenomenal article! Kudos!
http://teenlibrarian.co.uk/2011/08/11/the-kids-will-be-alright/ Teen Librarian » teens, libraries, schools, news, reviews… » The kids will be alright!

[...] The rioters have misrepresented the young community by attacking pointlessly and gaining goods that … [...]
ADM

except he’s a Brit!
Naomi

Great!! fantastic article Elias, you should be a very proud man and is exactly what young people should stand for.
Elias Wachenje

Thanks! I totally hear what you are saying! Well spoken!
Elias Wachenje

Thank you! I’d love that… Come to Live offices and possibly give it to me????
Anil1976

Well done..its great to hear young people like you talking with real sense and passion.
Keep doing what you,re doing x
SuzieG

“We steal trainers but not books” – so revealing… Opportunist not political… Great article Elias, keep up the good work!
Elias Wachenje

It’s cool…
Whtrz

The line “we steal trainers but not books” says so much, and brings up important issues. How would we have felt about the riots if looters had emptied Waterstones and left Dixons? What does it say about us that this didn’t happen?

A very good piece. Keep it up.
paul

your opinion is very important and you delivered it very well. never stop writing.
Anon.

If you can, always include links or evidence to back up your claims. I’d seen nothing to suggest the IPCC having placed misleading info and it does give your piece an underlying feel of you having a mistrust of the police when it could have been either misreported by the press or a case that they (the police) did not have all the facts at the time. Don’t assign a dark purpose and try remember that the guy in the uniform used to be a kid in a school uniform too. People aren’t all bad.
But as a lot of folk have pointed out, you’ve got an incredibly well rounded viewpoint and I can only hope my kids are as keen minded and passionate as you are. You give us all a bit of hope for the future. Now we need to try and change the root causes of all this and both sides need to see where they’ve gone wrong. The Politicians seem to have forgotten that they had their hands in the till long before “yoots” helped themselves to free Nikes…
http://www.wurzeltod.ch/?p=2064221954 Suzanne Gerber – Giving Taste A Bad Name Since Kindergarten» Blog Archive » London – A Week of Anger, Tears, Headaches and Facepalms

[...] thinking about “what they’ve done” and writing papers about the riots. Read any of those essays and you get a better summary of what happened and why than any newspaper of any [...]
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=750504011 Polly Winn

Well done buddy. This is great and wise. I’m going to use it with kids I teach as an example of good thinking as well as good writing. Keep it going.
Daydreamweaver

Yes, but he does live in the US now.
Elias Wachenje

Here you are… My evidence!
http://www.live-magazine.co.uk/2011/08/who-carried-out-the-riots-by-a-12-year-old/ WHO CARRIED OUT THE RIOTS? BY A 12 YEAR OLD | Live Magazine

[...] naively, will answer with “Black youths wearing hoodies.” To be honest my first article (The Riots, By A 12 Year Old) did in fact give that impression. Maybe it was the photo. So this one is going to put that [...]
http://www.dailywebday.com/2011/08/uk-riots-aftermath-live-updates/ UK riots aftermath: live updates | dailywebday.com

[...] got two must-reads by teenagers today:Elias Wachenje, who is 12, has written a piece “Riots, by a 12-year-old“. He acknowledges the concerns of people in Tottenham over the Duggan shooting but goes [...]
Anon

Yikes! A tweet from Sky News. Erm. IPCC say Police “may” have given misleading info. I wouldn’t trust a single word from any NI affiliated “news” source and this tweet again is conjecture. I “may” be 6 foot 2 or I might be 5 foot 1. You wouldn’t be able to tell from my comments though would you? I can’t remember the last time I saw facts in the news and I’m 33. All I’m trying to get across is be more open minded and get all the facts. I think if you wanted to you could have a bright future in journalism, God only knows we need some good ones!!
Elias Wachenje

Thanks! What school is it? And what year group?
Elias Wachenje

I feel that they could call it that because in Mexico the situation is different. But being in London most people don’t agree…
Elias Wachenje

Plus you are my mum…
Anonymous

Fantastic take, Elias! Heartfelt analysis and something most folks should read.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1575325264 Sargent Shansz

wow! this was very direct and up front i think she should have had more space to say more because i can see that they had a lot more to say. This had never actually occured to me
Fire Kid

I agree with this twelve year old. “We steal trainers but not books. What are trainers going to for us in life?” Just checking out the website because I was reading the article by Shyam Kelly. He has written some powerful stuff in his book and I think if kids had a copy before the looting they might have looted Waterstones instead of footlocker. Keep it up Shyam, your my boy from day and one of the realist guys I know. I hope your book does well. And for all the tugs out there you can order his book from Waterstones the shop you forgot to loot.
Krazy_monkey

I totally agree too. Things are hard enough as it is with the over eager stero types we have inherited as young people, especially the young black generation. Did you see the front pages of the news? Youth this & youth that.. When infact Adults seized this as an opportunity to kit themselves out in new clothes & give their homes a makeover. I was present at a riot & watched in shock as Adults grabbed as many things as they could get their hands on. Smashing cars, windows, causing masses of destruction as well as the young people. But as it always seems, we are yet again to blame. Instead of using violence there are so many other ways we could state our points & get our views across. So many young people have that talent yet is wasted, due to the lack of belief that they are actually worth something much more than they could ever imagine. We as young people need to rise against this stero types & let everyone know who we are as individuals.
Josh

A VERY well written and understandable article I can totally agree with. It’s because of teenagers like these that a lot of adults frown upon us teenagers in society and the local community. Those who took part in the riots are a complete disgrace to the teenage community and humanity itself. WHY can’t some adults also notice teenagers who are hard working, polite and respectful instead of focusing the ones who drop out of school, rob people on the streets and ruin everyone’s life’s by killing and drug dealing and stop assuming us teens are all the same…because really, we’re not.
Nelson Hylton

To a certain extent I feel that we have been misrepesented and portrayed in a certain way by the media but then again there is the minority that do spoil it for us and that is the reason we have been misrepresented. The amount of times I was mugged last year was unreal. Anyway, good article.
wunmi bello

In my opinion i think the riot was at first a way of teaching the police some sort of lesson but obviously later leaded into something totally different. people not just youths took advantage and did something absolutely unacceptable.
Biodun Dosumu

i think people only went looting because they wanted the latest pair of trainers or because their friend had something they didn’t. it was not about Mark Duggan’s death.
http://twitter.com/AilishFarrell Ailish Farrell

You’ve made a great point, I have just turned 13 and this is how we teen’s are being presented, to be honest I’m not surprise, some of the kids I know wouldn’t even think twice before breaking the la, but I wouldn’t. I think teenagers theses days just don’t care and I really hate it, you make some Brilliant points, good on you
Naima

wow only 12 that is amazing article seriously, you also make valid point.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003308989500 Jack Anthony

lol love the story sad and funny
IsoaTupua

The kid is 12. I don’t think it is fair for a 33year old man/woman to be so demeaning. So what if he didn’t support his claims with full facts. The point of this article and this website is to speak on behalf of the youths. He is not a professional editor, but he has the potential to be. So please, don’t degrade his works just because your age gives more experience. Well done Elias. Bit late with the comments, but thought I would just reply to this person’s comment…
http://WWW.globalwarmingsa.webs.com/ Melissa

First, its cool that you’re 12 and able to explain these events so thoroughly, and yeah, I think it’s stereotypic how youth are being regarded these days, I’m 12 too and already sick of the looks I get when I walk down the streets in a hoodie with my friends.

And I agree; although, I don’t think it was a cold blooded murder, because that’s what police are taught to do, If there’s a gun pointed at them and it could endanger their safety or that of the public, they shoot, right? Although I do think it was a bit unjustified I mean, did they not have CS spray or something of the sort, I wasn’t actually in London or England, even, at the time of the riots, I was all the way across the world in Hong Kong, Imagine my shock when I was watching the News broadcast, On the train! People looked frightened when I yelled “Oh My God” (sorry for the blaspheme)

Plus; people just needed an excuse, I mean they could have campaigned normally with boards standing outside the police station, but although you could say they created all the damage for the police to clean up, it’s simply not true, its dumb, ya’kno? I’m sure loads of people were upset by the shooting, don’t mean they’ve got to go out and do that to their city, much more people are killed in America by police and how often does this happen, not often, all this shows is people want an excuse to steal stuff and if you think about it the phrase “the end justifies the means”, it shows this defiantly wasn’t justified, in any way. Damn it, people these days, init?
E Wachenje

that is true
E Wachenje

thanks a lot. however I am a boy. its quite shocking
E Wachenje

the proof is further up the page

Live Mag UK 4 posts	Zindzi Rocque Drayton 2 posts
Jacob Roberts-Mensah 2 posts	Robbie 1 post
Emma Hitchens 1 post	Tharshan John 1 post
Salma Khan 1 post	Leanne Joseph 1 post
Tasha Dujon 1 post	Jermain Ghartey 1 post

The Riots, by a 12 year old

About the author: Elias Wachenje View all posts by Elias Wachenje

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