The director of charity Southall Black Sisters and two friends are considering a High Court legal challenge after they complained about racist abuse on the Tube and were then charged themselves with assault.
Selma Taha, the charity’s executive director, appeared in the dock at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Thursday alongside Divina Riggon and Danae Thomas.
All three women are accused of common assault by beating, while Riggon also faces a public order offence allegation. Thomas has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.
The charges relate to an incident on the Northern Line last September, when they first alleged they had been racially abused and assaulted.
They are now facing criminal charges, while the woman they accused of abuse has not been charged.
No pleas were taken at Thursday’s hearing, after magistrates were told that an application for judicial review of the CPS charging decision may be lodged at the High Court.
The court heard an initial legal letter was sent to the CPS by civil solicitors acting for the three women on March 11, and a response was received ten days later.
Some of the charges being brought in the criminal case were amended at court, and the defendants asked for a two-week adjournment for a final decision to be taken on the High Court challenge.
The public gallery at the magistrates court was packed for Thursday’s hearing, with some onlookers being forced to stand due to lack of space.
Magistrates agreed to adjourn the case for a further hearing on April 26.
In advance of the court appearance, Taha, 52, issued a statement which revealed the “deeply shocking” charges that have been brought.
The incident happened on the Northern Line last September, when she and her friends alleged they had been racially abused and physically assaulted by another woman.
Taha said the public order charges against Riggon, 41, and Thomas, 52, related to an incident involving a British Transport police officer at King’s Cross station, after the incident on the train.
“We will be fighting the charges,” she added. “We regard these charges as criminalising the right of Black people, and in particular Black women, to call out racist abuse and resist racist violence.”
Taha, Thomas, and Riggon, who all live in west London, were freed on unconditional bail until the next court hearing.
