Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Protesters face police at the entrance to Downing Street in London during a Black Lives Matter protest rally. PA

Tensions escalate between police and Black Lives Matter protesters outside 10 Downing Street gates

“It is very, very important that we keep control of this moment,” Star Wars actor John Boyega told the crowd earlier.

LAST UPDATE | 3 Jun 2020

PROTESTERS WHO GATHERED gathered in London for a Black Lives Matter protest in memory of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by US police, have staged a demonstration outside 10 Downing Street’s gates.

Although the demonstration was peaceful, in the past few minutes tensions have arisen between protesters and around a dozen police stationed outside.

As UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the UK’s latest Covid-19 figures, protesters gathered outside the British PM’s official residence.

Some were also seen “taking a knee” earlier in the day – a symbol of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protesters – however as protesters knelt at 6pm none of the officers joined them. Several hundred protesters were also at Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park. 

Tensions have now arisen between protesters and police – with reports that protesters are pushing to be let past the gates, and that objects have been thrown at police officers.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said that she received an update from the Metropolitan Police, to whom she expressed “concern at small number of reports of violence”.

I’m sickened at George Floyd’s death. But protests must be peaceful & in accordance with social distancing rules. This virus remains a threat to us all.

When asked what his message to US President Donald Trump was in relation to the protests, Boris Johnson said he was “sickened” by the death of George Floyd.

He said: “We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him.

And my message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States from the UK is that I don’t think racism – it’s an opinion I’m sure is shared by the overwhelming majority of people around the world – racism, racist violence has no place in our society.

He said people had the right to protest but “I would urge people to protest peacefully, and in accordance with the rules on social distancing”.

Everybody’s lives matter, black lives matter, but we must fight this virus, as well.

black-lives-matter-protests A Black Lives Matter demonstration in Hyde Park. Dominic Lipinski Dominic Lipinski

Demonstrators had gathered earlier in London’s Hyde Park for a Black Lives Matter protest in memory of George Floyd.

George Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for almost 9 minutes in Minneapolis, sparking days of protest across the US.

In order to comply with government advice to remain socially distant, organisers reminded people to stay 2 metres apart from others, and were seen handing out gloves.

A protest in Dublin was held on Monday, and attracted thousands who marched from the GPO to the US embassy and held a minute’s silence – but raised concerns about the public health implications, as in many cases people couldn’t stay 2 metres apart.

black-lives-matter-protests Dominic Lipinski Dominic Lipinski

Star Wars actor John Boyega made an emotional speech at the rally.

The 28-year-old film star told fellow demonstrators he was “speaking to you from my heart”. 

The British actor referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US, as well as the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in London in 1993. 

He said: “We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd.

“We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence.”

Ms Bland died aged 28 while in police custody in Texas following a traffic stop, while Mr Martin was shot and killed, aged 17, by a neighbourhood watch volunteer in Florida, with both deaths sparking protests across the US at the time.

He added:

I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but fuck that.

black-lives-matter-protests Victoria Jones Victoria Jones

“Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process. We don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones.

I need you to understand how painful this shit is. I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn’t the case any more, that was never the case any more.

He urged protesters to remain peaceful as they demonstrated over the death of Floyd.

“It is very, very important that we keep control of this moment. That we make this as peaceful and as organised as possible,” he said.

“Because they want us to mess up, they want us to be disorganised, but not today.” 

- with reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 81 comments
Close
81 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 7:45 AM

    Not our busines to know exactly what he died from but “dysfunction of his immune system.” sure makes me wonder why the mystery!

    223
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Kelly
    Favourite Tom Kelly
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 7:55 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: what mystery?? Look up the condition at 100s of things can cause it!!!

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fr. Fintan Stack
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 8:44 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: Maybe just leave it at your first 10 words…… RIP.

    118
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 9:16 AM

    @Tom Kelly: yes, so why not be more specific.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 9:17 AM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: becuase you say so?lol

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marco
    Favourite Marco
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 10:30 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: no mistery here, he had a lymphatic cancer few years ago.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Dowling
    Favourite Roy Dowling
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 10:35 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: Because it’s none of our business.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Roche
    Favourite Eoin Roche
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 10:37 AM

    @Marie Broomfield: you were right to start with, none of your business.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marc Johns
    Favourite Marc Johns
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 11:14 AM

    @Eoin Roche: it’s anyones and everyone’s business. That’s why we have inquests and death certificates. Matter of public record.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 12:27 PM

    @Marie Broomfield: David Sassoli received a bone marrow transplant 10 years ago, this is commonly used to treat multiple myeloma.

    “He had undergone a bone marrow transplant 10 years ago and he died in a cancer clinic in the northeastern town of Aviano.”

    https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-parliament-president-sassoli-has-died-spokesperson-2022-01-11/

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 011Y
    Favourite 011Y
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 8:03 AM

    He seemed like a really decent human being. RIP.

    132
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan J Walsh
    Favourite Declan J Walsh
    Report
    Jan 11th 2022, 7:49 AM

    RIP

    106
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds