Why did police taser a Bristol grandfather in the face?

“My name is Ras Judah Adunbi,” the protagonist of I Am Judah announces proudly. “I am a retired local government officer for Bristol City council. In 2017, as a result of taking my dog for a walk I was verbally and physically abused by police officers – not for the first time– who tried to force their way into my property. I refused to give my name, there were no laws at the time to suggest that any police can demand a name and so I exercised my legal right. They weren’t happy with that. So, they discharged a taser in my face, which has caused immense damage to me. It was not only unlawful, it was inhumane.”

These words outline the tragic experience of violence and injustice felt by the protagonist in this anger-inducing yet inspiring feature documentary I Am Judah - of which Huck presents an exclusive extract here. Directed by Bashart Malik, this cinematic journey weaves together the hard-hitting truths of institutional racism with an intimate portrait of a well-loved Bristol community member; Ras Judah Adunbi. After enduring years of police harassment and repeated misidentification – with racist motivations unconvincingly denied – the film captures the perseverance of Judah in his refusal to be silent. He shares his story as a courageous tribute to those who feel unheard in times of suffering.

“I felt what needs to happen with this story in particular, is not to go down the traditional route of the documentary,” Bashart explains. “Traditional documentaries are laid out in a way that you don’t get to the raw facts; this film is laid out to make you question who’s the protagonist, who’s in the right and wrong. I wanted to use that idea of ‘who’s the protagonist?’ and that happened through carefully constructed storytelling and a cinematic approach, which is usually witnessed in theatrical releases for mainstream cinema designed to generate profit. My idea was about using that process but to generate the truth.”

Highly covered by the media at the time, the taser attack footage showed the police mistaking Judah – once again – for a criminal suspect in Bristol (who was actually still in prison at the time) and pursued him under these flawed assumptions. “They forgot their responsibility,” Judah says. “I refuse 100% that it was a case of mistaken identity. I’ve done a lot of work in my community, I worked with the constabulary, so that’s an argument I totally refute. If truth be told, it was a matter of race.” The officer who discharged the taser was not found guilty at her criminal trial and in 2018 was also cleared of misconduct.

For over 25 years, Judah was a local government officer, chairman of various community organisations and an Independent Race Relations Advisor. “I put the people in my community before myself,” Judah says. “Their healthiness I live off, their joy I live off.” Having dedicated his life to creating better working relationships between his community and government bodies like the police, only for him to be let down by ‘mistakes’ that keep happening. Judah’s story is one too common and felt painfully by millions around the world but rarely told truly on film in a way that interrogates those entrusted to protect us.

“There’s a big campaigning part of the film about civil liberties and the right to protest,” Bashart explains. “However, when it’s represented in film, it’s represented in such an uncontrolled way that the audience will question those campaigning: Are they violent? Are the police just trying to control these people? Who do you trust?” Bashart’s directing work challenges misinformation and explores mistrust in all areas of society, from those who govern us to mainstream media. Using a deep art process to create compelling moments of historical consciousness, from untangling stories of the past that had been skewed to fit colonial narratives to disputing harmful rhetoric that continues to spew from many powerful institutions in the UK.

“The police would have you believe a taser is not lethal,” Judah explains. “There is no government or police who can put a seal on my lips. I have to speak for people who don’t have a voice. People like Dalian Atkinson up in the Midlands who lost their life to a taser.” Atkinson was a professional footballer who died in 2016 after being tasered by police and going into cardiac arrest.

In the face of these devastating political realities, people will turn to alternative forms of expression to have their voices heard. “Coming together with the community for this project is the reason why this becomes an artistic weapon to challenge the criminal justice system. And that was the intention, that it cannot be ignored.” Bashart says. “This film lays the foundation to work forward from, in recognising the problem and looking to secure accountability, then you can look towards healing.”

In 2023, Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary publicly stated that their force was institutionally racist. Although this was something many in the community knew all too well, this acknowledgement was a step towards making the changes called for by Judah’s fight for justice.

In the final chapter, the film focuses on Judah’s personal healing journey. Not long after the incident, Judah couldn’t leave the house alone; it had a detrimental effect on his whole well-being. So, seeing Judah surrounded by nature and showcasing his spirituality, something often strayed away from in western media, is a cathartic and emotional moment that speaks to the depth of the film.

“Art as healing is something we need to value,’’ Bashart reflects. “How we bring communities together through the process of art, it’s not violent, it creates a space that’s not aggressive, where you’re able to share, exchange viewpoints and learn from one another. And that’s why creativity and valuing filmmaking, music, poetry, literature, the old traditional way of telling stories to each other around a fire is really important in how we move forward as an equal planet which is fair for all.’’

I Am Judah is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what you believe in. It shows the triumph and dedication of independent artists who come together in times of injustice. Using the power of cinematic storytelling to transcend the spirit of one man’s journey across audiences and generations, to understand him and preserve a legacy that violence can’t touch.

Directed by Bashart Malik and produced by Zaheer Mamon, featuring Ras Judah Adunbi and poet Lawrence Hoo, the project began in September 2018.

The full length I Am Judah film will be available to screen online on Wednesday 16th October through Kush Cinema.

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