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

Thousands of people have joined anti-racism demonstrations across the UK.

George Floyd death

In London, protesters knelt for a minute’s silence before chanting “no justice, no peace” and “black lives matter”.

The majority of the day’s protests were peaceful but in the evening there were disturbances outside Downing Street.

14 people were arrested in these protests. 10 police officers were injured. The cry found a voice in the United Kingdom.

A police officer who fell off a horse was injured and  taken to hospital but her injuries are not life-threatening.

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”.

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”.

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”.

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.

anthony joshua speaking for racism

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.”

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.

black lives matter glasgow

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.

Written by Maraaz

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