UNJUST
UNJUST was established in January 2021 in response to the global outcry following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in America. While not a UK incident, his death sparked unprecedented Black Lives Matter protests across the UK, drawing attention to the historic and ongoing oppression experienced by Black and racialised communities in Britain. These events became the catalyst for the formation of UNJUST.
UNJUST exists to challenge discriminatory culture, policies, and practices within the Criminal Legal System (CLS). The organisation is committed to holding State agencies accountable for their conduct and treatment of Black and racialised communities. Their vision is a criminal legal system free of racial discrimination, underpinned by equitable laws, policies, practices, and cultures.
Through research, advocacy, campaigning, utilising the law, convening public events, delivering training, and providing advice and guidance, UNJUST equips people with the knowledge, skills, tools and supportive network to address discrimination confidently. They recognise that achieving meaningful systemic transformation requires collaborative efforts involving all of society.
UNJUST works with impacted individuals and communities, lawyers, academics, grassroots groups, civil society organisations, and policymakers. Their values include realism—acknowledging the unfairness of the CLS and the difficulty in challenging it; empathy—standing in the shoes of those impacted by discrimination; visionary thinking—encouraging people to reimagine a fairer world; activism—inspiring people to be involved in creating equitable solutions; collaboration—bringing together diverse voices to achieve common goals; and trust—working with honesty and pride in supporting others.
Following their successful strategic litigation challenge against the Met Police’s unlawful use of the Gangs Matrix database, UNJUST was awarded The Sheila McKechnie Best Use of the Law Campaign Award in 2023.
“Injustice Anywhere Is A Threat To Justice Everywhere”
