NOW THE PROTESTS HAVE SPREAD OVERSEAS

Black Lives Matter: Trafalgar Square filled with hundreds ignoring social-distancing rule to protest at George Floyd death in US

 

By Jane Dalton 

 

Independent

May 31, 2020

Hundreds of activists have defied social-distancing rules to gather in Trafalgar Square in London to protest against the death in the US of a black man after a white police officer knelt on his neck.

Police watched as the large crowds chanted “black lives matter”, in memory of George Floyd and to protest against alleged police brutality in the UK.

Many knelt, and repeated “No justice, no peace” and “Say my name, George Floyd”.

Others held up placards saying “Racism has no place” and “I can’t breathe” – thought to have been among Mr Floyd’s last words to the police officer, who had handcuffed him during his arrest.

The US has been rocked by five days of protest across many cities, after he died in police custody in Minneapolis on Monday.

But as well as the Trafalgar Square demonstration, hundreds of people also joined a march in Manchester to protest at Mr Floyd's death.

In central London, police eventually moved the crowds on, and some protesters walked to the gates of Downing Street, where they held up placards calling for justice. More protests in the capital are planned for the coming week.
 
The Rev Sally Hitchiner, associate vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, who saw the protest, said: “I’m very sympathetic to the issue but also surprised to see the strength of emotion that has gathered people together.

“It’s showing there are people in the UK who care passionately about the situation in the US.  It’s an issue that requires passion but at the same time there’s a huge amount of risk in what they’re doing.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: There were also demonstrations in Berlin and some other European cities.