Southampton protests invoke ‘take the knee’ after Henry Nowak murder

Eighteen‑year‑old university student Henry Nowak was stabbed and died in December 2023 in Southampton. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

Following the release of police body‑camera footage showing officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying, crowds gathered outside Portswood Police Station. Demonstrators took the knee, chanted “I can’t breathe”, and displayed signs such as “Never forget Henry Nowak” and calls to end “two‑tier policing”. A previous protest earlier in the week turned violent, injuring 11 officers and leading to 14 arrests; the recent gathering was largely peaceful.

The gesture has also been adopted by UK populist‑right figures, who used “take the knee” to mock the original anti‑police protest, highlighting a cultural split over the symbolism of the kneeling salute.