Marcia Rigg is an activist and campaigner focused on the impact of controversial deaths in state custody, particularly following police restraint, mental health crises, and within the criminal justice process.
She spearheads the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC), a coalition of families whose loved ones have died in police custody, prisons, and mental health units. Since the death of her brother Sean in 2008, Marcia has worked closely with INQUEST, a charity providing expertise on state-related deaths. She is a member of its Family Reference Group. In recognition of her work, she was voted one of the 100 Great Black Britons in 2020.
Speaking about racism and the use of excessive force, Marcia says:
“My brother Sean Rigg died in police custody in Brixton. I believe excessive force was used because he was a Black man. For me, this is modern-day lynching, a reminder that we are still enslaved.”
