Rebellion: Self Defence is no Offence !
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The Bradford 12, by arming themselves, took direct action to stop skinhead violence. The state called them criinals, this is their story
This event is sponsored by Black History Walks as part of 60 years since 1965 the first ever Race Relations Act, 20 years of the African Odysseys film series and 20 years of Black History Walks
This 2026 documentary by Ken Fero and Tariq Mehmood explores the story of the Bradford 12 in today’s context of the rise of the far-right and the need for anti-colonial and anti-imperialist resistance. In 1981, twelve young Asian men in Bradford faced terrorism charges after defending their community from a violent racist skinhead attack. They made petrol bombs for self-defence. Known as the Bradford 12, by arming themselves, they took direct action to ward off the greater threat of skinhead violence. The state labelled them criminals, but the people rallied behind the slogan, “Self-defence is no offence.”
Their case exposed the intense racial tensions in Britain. Their arrest sparked fierce protests nationally and internationally, with thousands demanding justice for the Bradford 12. The lengthy, tense trial revealed a police force indifferent to racist violence, one that believed discrimination was necessary and had Special Branch surveillance on key defendants.
Ultimately, the Bradford 12 were acquitted—a landmark victory affirming the right to organised armed self-defence for oppressed communities. Their courage and solidarity challenged systemic racism and continues to inspire the fight for justice.
This film was made collectively by a group of documentary makers and activists, many of whom were central figures in the Bradford 12, as well as those who supported them. The documentary contains unique archive, exclusive interviews and an epic reconstruction of the trial organised as a Third Cinema event where members of the Bradford 12, as well their children and community activists and workers, recreated key moments of the trial. In doing so we rejected conventional drama to create powerful imaginative realism based on radical intergenerational lived experience of struggle and resistance. This is not just a political film, it has also been made politically.
African Odysseys has continually championed Ken Fero's work since 2007 most recently with a screening of Justice for Joy (1995) about the police killing of Joy Gardner HERE
and also with the 2025 screening of Injustice (2001) which features Christopher Alder an ex-paratrooper who died in Hull police station in 1998 before the police destroyed his clothes, dry cleaned their uniforms and washed out the van he was transported in. The police later used parts of his body for training purposes HERE.
Prior to that African Odysseys hosted workshops and seasons on his films on police killings, migration and housing and championed his film Ultraviolence which led to it being listed on BFI iplayer.
About African Odysseys
The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screened monthly, popular, anti-racist, Black history films with Q&A's for 18 years at the BFI. It regularly filled the Southbank 450 seater at 2pm on Saturdays when cinemas are typically 'dead'. The British Film Institute is trying to ignore a 19,000 strong petition to keep it HERE
They refused to answer 8 simple questions. Then cancelled the programme so they could 'cut costs and promote diversity' HERE
They've been proven to be lying to the public several times as can be seen HERE
Other coming events www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk HERE
-Black History Steam train tour (2026)
-Black History Bus Tour/ River Cruise (2026)
-Hackney, Mayfair, St Paul'/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
-African Odysseys and Racism @BFI Southbank with Professor Gus John
-Black Liverpool, film and book launch with Professor Stephen Small
-60 Years of Steel pan: the Jit Samaroo story
-Hero: Trinidadian World War 2 war hero and Pan Africanist judge
-We Were Here: Africans in 1500s Renaissance art
-Frantz Fanon weekender
-Black history in your Streets plus Blues, Gospel and trains
- Sign petition to support African Odysseys fight against racism at BFI Southbank HERE
This event is sponsored by Black History Walks as part of 60 years since 1965 the first ever Race Relations Act, 20 years of the African Odysseys film series and 20 years of Black History Walks
This 2026 documentary by Ken Fero and Tariq Mehmood explores the story of the Bradford 12 in today’s context of the rise of the far-right and the need for anti-colonial and anti-imperialist resistance. In 1981, twelve young Asian men in Bradford faced terrorism charges after defending their community from a violent racist skinhead attack. They made petrol bombs for self-defence. Known as the Bradford 12, by arming themselves, they took direct action to ward off the greater threat of skinhead violence. The state labelled them criminals, but the people rallied behind the slogan, “Self-defence is no offence.”
Their case exposed the intense racial tensions in Britain. Their arrest sparked fierce protests nationally and internationally, with thousands demanding justice for the Bradford 12. The lengthy, tense trial revealed a police force indifferent to racist violence, one that believed discrimination was necessary and had Special Branch surveillance on key defendants.
Ultimately, the Bradford 12 were acquitted—a landmark victory affirming the right to organised armed self-defence for oppressed communities. Their courage and solidarity challenged systemic racism and continues to inspire the fight for justice.
This film was made collectively by a group of documentary makers and activists, many of whom were central figures in the Bradford 12, as well as those who supported them. The documentary contains unique archive, exclusive interviews and an epic reconstruction of the trial organised as a Third Cinema event where members of the Bradford 12, as well their children and community activists and workers, recreated key moments of the trial. In doing so we rejected conventional drama to create powerful imaginative realism based on radical intergenerational lived experience of struggle and resistance. This is not just a political film, it has also been made politically.
African Odysseys has continually championed Ken Fero's work since 2007 most recently with a screening of Justice for Joy (1995) about the police killing of Joy Gardner HERE
and also with the 2025 screening of Injustice (2001) which features Christopher Alder an ex-paratrooper who died in Hull police station in 1998 before the police destroyed his clothes, dry cleaned their uniforms and washed out the van he was transported in. The police later used parts of his body for training purposes HERE.
Prior to that African Odysseys hosted workshops and seasons on his films on police killings, migration and housing and championed his film Ultraviolence which led to it being listed on BFI iplayer.
About African Odysseys
The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screened monthly, popular, anti-racist, Black history films with Q&A's for 18 years at the BFI. It regularly filled the Southbank 450 seater at 2pm on Saturdays when cinemas are typically 'dead'. The British Film Institute is trying to ignore a 19,000 strong petition to keep it HERE
They refused to answer 8 simple questions. Then cancelled the programme so they could 'cut costs and promote diversity' HERE
They've been proven to be lying to the public several times as can be seen HERE
Other coming events www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk HERE
-Black History Steam train tour (2026)
-Black History Bus Tour/ River Cruise (2026)
-Hackney, Mayfair, St Paul'/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
-African Odysseys and Racism @BFI Southbank with Professor Gus John
-Black Liverpool, film and book launch with Professor Stephen Small
-60 Years of Steel pan: the Jit Samaroo story
-Hero: Trinidadian World War 2 war hero and Pan Africanist judge
-We Were Here: Africans in 1500s Renaissance art
-Frantz Fanon weekender
-Black history in your Streets plus Blues, Gospel and trains
- Sign petition to support African Odysseys fight against racism at BFI Southbank HERE
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Where is it happening?
University College London,Gower Street,London,WC1E 6BT,GB, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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