Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah is a key figure in the new Art Not Evidence campaign. The campaign group, comprised of lawyers, academics, artists, youth workers, journalists, and music industry professionals, formed in a bid to curb the prejudicial use of rap lyrics and music videos as evidence in criminal trials. Dr Owusu-Bempah’s research has shown that this racialised form of evidence often has no direct connection to the crimes alleged and is used to lean into stereotypes and gang narratives to secure convictions. Legislation drafted by Art Not Evidence, to restrict the use of creative expression as evidence in court, will be tabled by Nadia Whittome MP in the next parliamentary session.
Read more about the campaign here, and to support Art Not Evidence, visit https://artnotevidence.org/