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    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests

    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests Empty George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests

    Post by Kitkat Sat 06 Jun 2020, 23:31

    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests



    Thousands of people have joined anti-racism demonstrations across the UK.
    The protests, sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US, are being held in cities including London, Manchester, Cardiff, Leicester and Sheffield.
    In London, protesters knelt for a minute's silence before chanting "no justice, no peace" and "black lives matter".
    The protests went ahead despite officials advising against mass gatherings due to coronavirus.
    Home Secretary Priti Patel said the social distancing advice was "for the safety of all of us", while Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the protests were "unlawful".
    The vast majority of the day's protests were peaceful.
    But later in the evening, as demonstrators dispersed in London, there were disturbances outside Downing Street.

    Earlier thousands of people gathered in the capital, the majority donning face coverings and many with gloves.
    Some held signs making reference to coronavirus, including one which read: "There is a virus greater than Covid-19 and it's called racism".
    Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, police said they had issued "a significant number" of fines given the dangers of crowds in the pandemic.
    Protests began in the US after a video emerged of Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, being arrested by four officers on 25 May in Minneapolis.
    Videos showed Mr Floyd, who was unarmed and in handcuffs, dying after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The footage - seen all around the world - showed him gasping that he could not breathe.
    An officer has been charged with murder while three of his colleagues stand accused of aiding and abetting the killing.

    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112750173_gettyimages-1247036773
    In Cardiff, black protesters held up placards saying "my life matters" and "I can't breathe"


    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112750169_hi061821816
    Boxer Anthony Joshua joined protesters in Watford, Hertfordshire

    At a protest in his hometown of Watford, Britain's world heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua told the crowds: "We can no longer sit back and remain silent on this senseless, unlawful killing and sly racism on another human being."
    In central London, protesters dropped to one knee and raised their fists in the air outside the US embassy amid chants of "silence is violence" and "colour is not a crime".
    Sarah Law, a 27-year-old train manager, said there was a "great atmosphere" at the protest in London. She said: "I don't want my future children to experience what I have. It's time for us all to unite together regardless of our race and stand up for what is right."
    Meanwhile, in Glasgow, anti-racism campaigners renamed streets that have links to the slave trade, replacing street signs with the names of enslaved Africans, black activists and victims of police brutality. Demonstrations are scheduled in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Sunday.

    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112751767_usembassyprotests1
    Protesters in London marched towards the US embassy in Vauxhall


    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112750171_hi061824741
    People left flowers and placards at a mural of George Floyd in Manchester


    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112750107_mancblmbbccredit
    In Manchester, one protester held a placard which read "white silence is violence"


    In Manchester about 15,000 protesters gathered at Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre, clapping in unison and holding placards bearing the initials BLM.
    They gathered despite warnings from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham that mass gatherings were "high risk" after fears coronavirus may be spreading rapidly again.
    Elsewhere, several hundred people marched in Newcastle, while many more took part in an online protest organised in the north-east of England.
    More protests took place across Europe on Saturday and others have begun in the US capital of Washington DC.





    How Floyd's death resonated in the UK



    As London's demonstration thinned out in the early evening, BBC correspondent Chi Chi Izundu said some demonstrators started throwing bottles outside Downing Street and a riderless police horse bolted, trampling a demonstrator.
    Police said four people were arrested at the protest over the day.
    In a tweet, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the protesters "I stand with you and I share your anger and your pain" and said the small minority of people who became violent "let down this important cause".
    Meanwhile, police in Northern Ireland said organisers of the protests in Belfast and Londonderry will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution.
    Organisers in Belfast had marked out social distancing measurements. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said regulations must be adhered to as "these are not ordinary times".

    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112750397_blmprotesterswalescardiff
    Hundreds have attended protests in Cardiff to show their support with many wearing masks


    George Floyd death: Thousands turn out for UK anti-racism protests _112751984_hi061824185
    Campaigners in Leicester knelt with their fists in the air


    O'Neall Rawle, a 27-year-old teacher from Leicester, said he was protesting "to hopefully spark some change".
    "I'm protesting because I'm exhausted," he said. "Exhausted of having to 'accept' this way of life. Exhausted of being treated as a second class citizen. Exhausted of being portrayed as aggressive, loud and lazy. Exhausted of inequality."

    'Knife edge'

    Earlier, the home secretary said she understood people's views and why they wanted to protest but said public health took priority.
    And speaking on LBC, Dame Cressida said she understood the strength of feeling but urged protesters to find a way of expressing themselves that did not involve mass gatherings.
    She also said that police officers should not "take the knee" in solidarity with protesters.




    What does the law say about protests?


    Coronavirus regulations for England don't specifically mention protests but do restrict "public gatherings" to no more than six people - that would make large protests illegal.
    Police officers can hand out fixed-penalty notices (starting at £100) to people who won't follow the health regulations. They can also arrest and charge someone with an offence.
    Whether they do this in practice is another matter and policing large protests during the coronavirus pandemic presents a challenge.
    Dame Cressida has said officers will "seek to uphold the law" but will have to make a "case-by-case" decision on what to do.
    She told the London Assembly on 3 June that if they had tried to enforce a mass dispersal at last weekend's protests, "we would probably have ended up with very serious disorder".
    Read more on what the law says on protests here.

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