Leroy Cooper

Leroy Alphonse Cooper (born 1960 or 1961; died May 2023) was a Jamaican-born photographer, active in Toxteth, Liverpool, England, whose arrest there in 1981 sparked the Toxteth riots.

Early life

Cooper was born in 1960 or 1961 in Jamaica, and emigrated with his parents to Liverpool as a baby.

Arrests and convictions

Cooper's arrest on 3 July 1981, when he was a photography student in Liverpool, sparked the first Toxteth riot, which occurred while he was in detention. He was prosecuted, with the most serious charge being causing grievous bodily harm, and held on remand in HMP Walton As a result, he spent nine months in borstal. He was again held in HMP Walton. He also worked as a performance poet

A book, Back In The Day Vol. 1, reproducing 44 of his photographs and one of his paintings was published in 2019.

An exhibition of Cooper's work, "A Secret Life of Liverpool", was held at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool in May 2018. At the time of his death the Museum of Liverpool was hosting an exhibition of his work, "Liverpool Through the Lens".

Death

Cooper's body was found at his home on 12 May 2023. He was 62. The cause of death was not immediately established.

Works