TENSION BOILS OVER
Ugly clashes outside No10 as barriers hurled after day of peaceful protest by Black Lives Matter activists
UGLY clashes broke out outside No10 Downing Street last night after a day of peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd by Black Lives Matter campaigners.
Around 15,000 people joined a Black Lives Matter rally in central London yesterday with police 'taking a knee' in front of calm crowds who were moved to take to the streets following the unarmed black man's death in Minneapolis, US.
Read our George Floyd protests live blog for the latest news & updates
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Protesters later clashed with police outside Downing Street
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Earlier in the day, Star Wars star John Boyega made an impassioned speech to the crowd, which also included ex-One Direction Star Liam Payne.
The overwhelming majority of protesters were peaceful throughout the day, but as the day wore on, scuffles broke out near Downing Street and outside the Foreign Office, with some of the crowd shouting 'f*** Boris, f*** Trump'.
The Met Police confirmed 13 people were arrested following the disturbances near the PM's London residence.
And during the evening, police in riot gear were called to Westminster after clashes broke out near to the Foreign Office and barriers were launched towards No10.
Footage from the scuffles near No10 shows objects including signs and a traffic cone being thrown at police while one protester is wrestled to the ground and restrained by officers.
Freelance journalist Mattha Busby filmed the moment and said it was "unclear exactly what started things".
"Police appeared to attempt to take a man from the crowd and pandemonium ensued," he said.
Another object, which appeared to be a plastic bottle, was also thrown at officers outside Downing Street.
One image appears to show a protester's hand coming into contact with a PC's face.
The incident sparked criticism from Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, who tweeted: "This is shameful.
'I sat on the sofa crying, angry and confused'
By Clara Amfo, Radio 1 presenter
AT Radio 1 we talk a lot about mental health and the truth is mine was in a really bad way this weekend.
In fact, it has been for the past few days, following the death of George Floyd.
I didn’t have the mental strength to do my show on Monday and say to listeners, “Hey, how was your weekend?”, with my usually happy intention — because I know my weekend was terrible.
I was sat on my sofa crying, angry and confused, as I sat watching the news of yet another brutalised black body.
There is a false idea racism is name-calling and physical violence, when it’s so much more insidious.
I know how the world enjoys blackness — and then I see what happened.
We black people get the feeling people want our culture but not us. In other words, you want my talent — you don’t want me.
One of my favourite thinkers, Amanda Seales, says you cannot enjoy the rhythm and ignore the blues.
Let’s all be anti-racist.
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"Protest in sympathy, sure, but don't attack our police who have done so much to protect all of us."
Another Conservative MP, Dehenna Davison, tweeted a photo of protesters surrounding a car and a bike and claimed they were "yelling abuse".
"Police came to intervene and formed a ring around the two vehicles. Booing and chants of 'f*** the police'. Disgusting," she said.
There was more tension later on outside the Foreign Office in Westminster, with witnesses telling of police hemmed in on all sides by protesters.
It is understood a number of people were arrested outside the Government building.
Some of those who took to the streets yesterday daubed 'BLM' on the Cabinet Office in black paint, while it's alleged missiles including glass bottles were thrown at police.
Most of those who attended the protest were calm and peaceful throughout the day.
Earlier, actor Boyega told the protesters: "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.
"Every black person in here remembered when another person reminded you that you were black.
"So none of you out there, all those protesters on the other side, protesting against what we want to do, protesting against what we want to try and achieve, burn you, this is so vital."
Former One Direction member Liam walked to stand with the huge group after being pictured hand-in-hand with girlfriend Maya Henry.
Police forces in the UK yesterday issued a joint statement saying they were" appalled and horrified" by Floyd's death.
Protesters were asked to maintain social distancing and wear protective masks to protect against coronavirus.
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'Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can'
By Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York
WHEN a handcuffed man with a policeman kneeling on his neck dies after shouting “Help me, I have no breath”, people say enough’s enough.
Two officers just looked on at George Floyd’s plight.
Martin Luther King Jnr said violence creates more problems than it solves.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
The US hasn’t been listening to the real problems of African Americans.
No government has dealt with the brutality they experience from people in uniform. Since the murder of Stephen Lawrence some strides have been made here. But it must be consistent all the time.
If a protest turns into violence I don’t believe that’s the same as protesting.
I’d certainly want to join a protest. But I’m self- shielding. I hope people don’t go into crowds. Maybe we should put a light in our window in solidarity.
Dr Sentamu was speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the Downing Street press briefing that he was "appalled and sickened" at Floyd's death.
He added: "We mourn George Floyd" but urged people at the demo to follow social distancing.
Home Secretary Priti Patel did the same, saying that while she is "sickened" by Floyd's death, protesters must continue to be aware of the threat of coronavirus.
She tweeted: "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."
The protests came hours after Mr Floyd's daughter, 6, was filmed proudly saying "daddy changed the world", after his shocking death in the US sparked the global movement.
Pictures showed the demonstrators holding placards reading "no justice, no peace" flanked by a large police presence.
Other signs waved by the demonstrators echo the final words of Floyd as he gasped "I can't breathe" while being restrained by police in Minneapolis.
The rally was organised in support of the Black Lives Matter movement with similar demonstrations taking place across the world in condemnation of the dad's death.
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How did George Floyd die?
Video of Mr Floyd's death has been viewed millions of times and has shocked the world.
In the clip, Mr Floyd is seen pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin, who has a knee across his neck.
Chauvin was detaining the 46-year-old on suspicion of forgery.
Mr Floyd is repeatedly heard saying he cannot not breathe, shouting "please, please" and "mama, mama".
He then goes silent and appears to go limp as Chauvin continues to press his knee onto his neck.
The dad-of-six described as a "gentle giant" by his family - is then taken away by paramedics and was later pronounced dead.
Police officer Chauvin has been sacked and charged with third-degree murder following Mr Floyd's death.
Organiser Naomi Smith said: “It’s important that we do this in London to show solidarity.
"We will keep to the social distance rules and this is a peaceful demonstration."
The 21-year-old said one of her reasons for protesting was Belly Mujinga, a railway worker who died of Covid-19 after she was reportedly spat at by a man who said he was infected with the virus.
British Transport Police launched an investigation into her death but have since said it would not be taking any further action.
Thousands of activists, including members of the railway worker's family, descended on Victoria Station - where Ms Mujinga was working at the time of the spitting incident - holding a sign that read "Justice for Belly Mujinga".
Elsewhere, at least 12 police vans could be seen parked by Marble Arch close to Speakers Corner as the protesters numbers grew.
It began with thousands gathering in Hyde Park before the crowd started to move along Park Lane brandishing signs and still chanting.
They headed south while marching together, stopping traffic including at least 10 double-decker buses.
The protest arrived at the roads outside the Houses of Parliament and approached Downing Street, chanting Mr Floyd's name.
The event follows protests across London, Manchester and Cardiff over the weekend - as well as countries such as France, Germany and Denmark.
Protesters chanted "black lives matter" and "we will not be silent" as they waited for the demonstration to begin, with most wearing masks or gloves.
Filippa, a 20-year-old student, said: " I know that I'm healthy. So this felt more important than to stay inside when I have the opportunity."
Activists are shining a light on police brutality and allegations of racism in the US and around the world.
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Yesterday's passionate demonstration came as quarterly race equality policing reports on the use of policing powers across different communities in Greater Manchester will be made public, Mayor Andy Burnham has said.
He said it was one of three new commitments by the region's political leaders following the "shock waves" from the death of George Floyd which have been "felt powerfully and painfully here in Greater Manchester".
Mr Burnham said: "We believe by giving this greater level of transparency we will also improve accountability and, hopefully, confidence in policing in all of our communities."
It comes as police forces in the UK today issued a joint statement slamming Floyd's killing.
They said they "stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified" by the 46-year-old's death.
The chief constables, the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, the chief executive of the College of Policing and the president of the Police Superintendents' Association said: "We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
"Justice and accountability should follow."
They have also urged people who want to make their voices heard to be aware that "coronavirus remains a deadly disease and there are still restrictions in place to prevent its spread, which include not gathering outside in groups of more than six people".
Tens of thousands of people have joined daily protests across the US since the death, with thousands of people arrested in 22 cities as some demonstrations descended into violence.
'We must all do our bit to level the playing field'
By Shaun Bailey, London mayoral hopeful
GEORGE Floyd’s death has resonated in Britain because it feels like it is happening to the black community.
The pain, anger and distrust incidents of police brutality breed are incredible.
Stop and search is a powerful police tool, but we should stop everybody or nobody. The police stop and search black people far more and they get a false positive — finding more black criminals. It is important for everyone, black or white, that our justice system works.
The report into the disproportionate number of BAME deaths from Covid-19 highlights how we need those communities to make the country work.
The lack of opportunity for black people is a problem for all, if we want everyone to prosper we need to stop looking at their colour. I’d ask people to look in their lives and ask how they could level the playing field.
You can’t give equality of outcome to all but equality of opportunity should be for all.
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The demonstration follows others across the world
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Video of Mr Floyd's death has been viewed millions of times and has shocked the world.
In the clip, Mr Floyd is seen pinned to the ground by Chauvin, who has a knee across his neck.
Chauvin was detaining the 46-year-old on suspicion of forgery.
Mr Floyd is repeatedly heard saying he cannot breathe, shouting "please, please" and "mama, mama".
He then goes silent and appears to go limp as Chauvin continues to press his knee onto his neck.
The dad-of-six - described as a "gentle giant" by his family - is then taken away by paramedics and was later pronounced dead.
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Protests and outrage quickly took hold - which decided into widespread violence and destruction in Minneapolis, leading to the deployment of the National Guard and imposition of a curfew.
Four days later Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Mr Floyd's family welcomed the arrest, but had hoped for a more serious charge.
They also wanted the other three officers involved - Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng - arrested as they failed to intervene.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said more charges were possible - and the investigation into the other three continues.
All four officers were fired from the force.
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Chauvin allegedly disregarded the concerns of another officer, who wanted to roll Mr Floyd onto his side, according to the criminal complaint.
The papers also said that an autopsy revealed as the cause of death - instead blaming underlying health conditions.
But an independent autopsy organised by Floyd's family showed he died from asphyxia (lack of oxygen) due to a compression on his neck and also on his back. It also found the death was a homicide, a statement from the family's legal team said.
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Violence erupts at Black Lives Matter protest in London as global impact of George Floyd's death continues