Being Bravely Woman.

In light of the current #blacklivesmatter revolution, the world is awakened to the ugly truth that for the longest time, despite subscribing to equality of all lives, when it comes to the law, police, and justice systems – there is a hierarchy and the whiter you are, the richer you are, the straighter you are and the more connected you are – your life matters most and always.
Even if you are the perpetrator of a horrible crime.

Shukri Abdi was 12 years old when she was found drowned in the River Irwell in the Lancashire town of Bury on 28 June 2019.
Her schoolmates were with her when she died.
Her death has been ruled as a tragic accident despite eye witnesses and statements admitting to “If you don’t get into the water, I am going to kill you.”

But here is where the story gets so dark, that you think this is a Hollywood movie.
Except it is real – and innocent lives are the brunt of it.

Hazel Wood High School was originally Broad Oak Sports College.
And Broad Oak Sports College was a local authority school which was run and funded by the government.

We know how it works in the movies when you need to erase an individual’s identity. (and history)
But how do you escape pressure, accountability and responsibility, as a public school accused of playing a role in the murder of one of your students?

You go private.

And that is exactly what they did.
Within months of Shukri’s murder, Broad Oak Sports College did not just have a rebranding exercise but they officially shut down Broad Oak Sports College, refurbished their building, renamed themselves Hazel Wood High School and re-registered themselves as a private academy.
They even redesigned and change their school uniforms.

Hazel Wood High School is now run by the Oak Learning Partnership Multi Academic Trust, which also oversees Unsworth Primary School and Elms Bank.
(It helps when you are connected with high friends in high places)

But what does this all mean?
It means their old identity no longer exist and they are now privately run, privately funded and most importantly, free from local authority control.

Diane Taylor, who writes for The Guardian, is possibly the only journalist who covered Shukri’s story, twice.
In it, she detailed how Shukri, a Muslim refugee from Somalia, was a long time victim of bullying from students in Hazel Wood High. Shukri’s mother, Zamzam Arab Ture, called on the staff of the school multiple times, to look into her daughter’s bullies but each time, they refused to take her complaints seriously.
A follow up article can be found here.

Remember I said this story is dark?
Well, this school has a track record for letting bullies get away with murder.
Shukri is not the first death by bullying.

Caroline Bailey, a Religious Education teacher and a mother of two,
was found hanged at a quarry in September 2012.
Her death was ruled as a suicide.
But till this day, her husband, Neal Connor, believes that his wife “was subjected to strategic bullying at her school.”

Why am I speaking about this?
The #blacklivesmatter movement has naturally surfaced the lives of plenty of BIPOC, who never got justice for their deaths, because the perpetrators involved have been white, rich, connected and/or protected by the system.
In the case of the students, staff and governing bodies of Hazel Wood High School – most likely, a combination of all the above.

Additionally, when I followed the hashtag #justiceforShukriAbdi, I realised that although her hashtag is trending, it has all the wrong information.
The Instagram and Twitter posts are still using the old school’s name and contact information. The only action call was a petition.
People were sharing wrong information and sending emails and calling up a school which no longer exist.
Plus the more I researched, the more I found out how “slick” the people involved were at covering up their tracks.

When you own the system, you rule the system.
That means you can manipulate it however you want.
I found out things like how their previously all white members of the school’s local governing body, was recently ( feb 2020) changed to include 3 Muslim members.
However, the members who “left” the board, are trustees of the Oak Learning Partnership which oversees the school.

And let’s not forget the Bury Police Station who is a part of Greater Manchester Police who pathetically concluded that her death was simply an accident, despite the eyewitnesses and students involved.

I’ve been speaking about people in positions of power, authority & influence and who in society must hold them accountable. The burden of responsibility are highest on leaders themselves – this is why they are appointed as leaders.

But if they fail to hold themselves accountable, then we are the last level of defence for the vulnerable in our communities.

Shukri Abdi, Caroline Bailey and their families deserve justice.
If we want the authorities to act, we need the right information, we nee to pressure, we need names, we need contact details and we need faces.

Starting with these ones.

Bernadette Euston Garner – The Chairperson of The Oak Learning Partnership Multi Academy Trust
Also goes by the name Bernie Garner.
Linkedin

Daniel Brown – Director (Vice Chairperson) of The Oak Learning Partership Multi Academy Trust.
Currently looking for a job on LinkedIn.
Does a murder investigation have anything to do with it Dan?

Simon Toft – Second to Daniel in The Oak Learning Partnership Multi Academy Trust
Linkedin
Fun fact: Franchise owner of multiple Mcdonald restaurants in the UK
Previously worked in the newspaper industry as Group Commercial Director and Assistant MD for (drumroll) The Guardian.

Trustees of The Oak Learning Partnership
Tip: Remember the names of these Trustees.
You will need to do a comparative analysis with them later.

Elaine Parkinson – CEO of Oak Learning Partnership which oversees Hazel Wood High School, Unsworth Primary School & Elms Bank
Linkedin

Hazel Wood High School Governance Details
Fun fact: The latest governors includes 3 Muslims who started their term on 11 February 2020.
If you look at who the original members are under the ‘Historic’ category,
you will see that it was an all white member team, who if you scroll back up, you will see they are familiar names.
So they never “left”.
They just manipulated the system and added 3 token Muslims while they continue sitting right at the top as Trustees & Chairpersons.

Paul Greenhalgh – Headteacher & Principal of Hazel Wood High School & Broad Oaks Sports College
Also new logo of Hazel Wood High School on his screen

Current School Uniform of Hazel Wood High School & Address

ACTION CALL

This section is continuously being updated to reflect the latest developments of Shukri Abdi’s case.

Demand accountability from the Greater Manchester Police
AND the Mayor of Greater Manchester – ANDY BURNHAM
By contacting Andy Burnham, you will be hitting two stones because he is also the Commissioner of Police & Crime!

Email: the.mayor@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
Twitter: @Mayorof GM
Churchgate House
Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6EU

Continue to email MP JAMES DALY for answers, member of parliament for that constituency.
(also thank him – you will see why below)
Email: james.daly.mp@parliament.uk
Phone: 0207 219 3000
Twitter: @JamesDalyMP

Email the Independent Office for Police Conduct who is currently investigating Shukri’s case and demand full justice for Shukri and to charge her murderers.
UK Customer Contact Centre : 0300 020 0096
Email : enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk
Twitter : @IOPC_help

Demand justice and accountability from the evil that sits on The Oak Learning Partnership Trust Board
The Oak Learning Partnership Trust
Ripon Avenue
Whitefield
Manchester M45 8PJ
Email: enquiries@oaklp.co.uk
UK Telephone Number: 0161 766 1597

Last Updated : 11 June 2020

New Developments ( 11 June 2020)

MP James Daly letter to Mayor Andy Burnham on Shukri’s case

9 hours ago, MP James Daly wrote to Mayor Andy Burnham.
This letter was posted on his Twitter account.
This letter is excellent and demands answers and justice.
If you intend to write a letter to Mayor Andy Burnham, or any of those listed in the action call above, feel free to copy phrases/sentences and words from the letter below.

For the latest updates, follow the official Justice4Shukri campaign team here!
This team have been supporting the family of Shukri Abdi and working alongside the legal team representing Shukri Abdi, led by Attiq Malik.
www.fb.com/Justice4Shukri

All the information above has been to the best of my knowledge and Google’s. If you are an organiser or activist from the UK, a family member of Shukri or Caroline, a student or parent of the school who wants justice -and you have further information to support their families or to amplify this case – please contact me so I can update my information above.

Bravely yours,
Noor
Instagram
Twitter