ON MAY 25, 2019 Siyanda Mngaza went on holiday to a Brecon campsite in Wales. Her family say that she was the victim of a racist attack.

However Siyanda was then arrested by the Dyfed-Powys police. On March 13, she was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, by an all-white jury that found her guilty of grievous bodily harm (GBH).

The young, black human resource officer worked for the South Wales Fire Brigade. She had never been in trouble with the police before the incident.

An appeal date for Siyanda’s case has been set for March 23 in the Court of Appeal.

A public petition supporting Siyanda has attracted more than half a million signatures. Many are questioning how a 4’10 woman could inflict such damage on two, older white men and a white woman.

Hilary Brown, from Virgo Consultancy Services Limited is heading Siyanda’s legal team.

She said: “It is disappointing to see that in 2019 the police and CPS were still failing victims of race hate crimes. The recommendations of the McPherson report into the Murder of Stephen Lawrence have clearly not been followed by two independent components of the criminal justice system making it clear that black people are still being failed when it comes to be treated equally and fairly within the law. Siyanda was a victim of a hate crime and was failed and criminalised by the criminal justice system.”

Shavanah Taj, General Secretary of the Wales Trade Union Congress (TUC) said: “Yet another miscarriage of justice. Yet another young black woman failed by the police and justice system that is supposed to protect and serve indiscriminately. The Wales TUC and trade union movement is proud to stand in firm solidarity with the family of Siyanda, just like we did with the Stephen Lawrence family all those years ago. ‘Black Lives Matter’ isn’t just a fashion label or a hashtag. If you say you’re an ally, show up, be there, stand with us and demand the truth. Free Siyanda!”

Lee Jasper is from the social movement Blaksox and he is also vice chair of BAME Lawyers 4 Justice.

He explained: “This is one of the most shocking cases of racist injustice I’ve seen in recent times. It illustrates the dangers of holidaying whilst black. That a young professional black woman, who’s never been in trouble in her entire life, can become a victim of a vicious racial attack, defend herself and then be charged, convicted, sentenced to four and a half years in jail is a travesty of justice.

“This conviction cannot stand, and people all over the country are becoming increasingly outraged at the injustice suffered by Siyanda at the hands of an institutionally racist police force and criminal justice system.”

Campaigners are holding a number of virtual events in support of Siyanda. The first is expected to take place on March 13, and it will be hosted by Black Lives Matter Cardiff and Vale. On March 20, Blaksox and BAME Lawyers 4 Justice will hold an event. Black Lives Matter Stoke will hold their own event on March 27.

You can find details of how to join here.

Campaigners also hope to hold Twitter and Instagram storms to increase awareness.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson told The Voice: “The criminal case in respect of this incident has been concluded. Any challenge to the case and consequent sentence would be the subject of an appeal.

“A formal complaint against police in respect of this matter was received and the review of the complaint under the Police Reform Act 2002 by the Professional Standards Department has been concluded and the outcome has been formally communicated to the complainant along with their statutory appeal right.”