Protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the
UK continued for a fourth consecutive week as demonstrators marched in London, Glasgow, Coventry and Newcastle to protest against
police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Several hundred people assembled in Hyde Park in London, where there was a heavy police presence.
protesters chanted slogans including “Munira Mirza must go”, referring to the appointment of the head of racial inequality review earlier this week.
Barriers erected down Whitehall to separate anti-racism demonstrators from far-right counter-protesters last weekend were still in place.
Demonstrators at the
London march were offered face masks and gloves upon arrival.
Tash, 23, told PA news agency: “This protest makes me feel hopeful but it also concerns me. We’re in a pandemic and I don’t want it to just be a hashtag and a trend.
“It is hopeful because people are finally listening but are they just listening because they have the time and they are bored?
“I want to see change, I want this to be followed through.”
Describing her own experience of
racism growing up in London, she said: “I’ve been asked what slave country I come from – in all seriousness – and I just think ‘how do I respond to that?’”London Black Lives Matter protest. super diverse 🏳️🌈 super peaceful. 👏🏼 watch out for the police officer’s smile at the end #BLM#BLMLondon#TransIsBeautifulpic.twitter.com/EcRHMNAxMQ— Polly Boiko (@Polly_Boiko) June 20, 2020 Protest organiser Imarn Ayton called for the removal of Mirza and said her appointment was a grave mistake.
She told attendees: “We are all here today because we know that Black lives matter, we are all here today because we know that Black is beautiful.
“And we are all here today because we know that it is time to burn down institutional racism.”
She continued: “Boris Johnson has responded to our cry,
Boris Johnson has heard our cry and he has responded with a new race inequality commission.
“We appreciate a response, we like a response but we know that a grave mistake has been made, a catastrophic mistake has been made.
“Boris Johnson has appointed a lady called Munira Mirza to head up our race inequality commission.
“This is a woman who does not believe in institutional racism – she has argued it is more of a perception than a reality.”Related... This Is How It Feels To Be Erased From Your Own History Lesson Opinion: Removing Statues Is The Easy Part. Confronting Britain's Racist Legacy Will Be Harder Could Wave Of Action Result In Meaningful Change For Black People?