'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'
Alison Hammond breaks down in tears and reveals she fears for her teen son’s life in the wake of George Floyd killing
ALISON Hammond broke down in tears as she admitted that she fears for her teen son Aiden's life in an emotional phone call to This Morning.
The 45-year-old star called in to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement that has gripped the world following the tragic death of George Floyd.
Alison was choked up throughout the discussion as she shared her own experience of growing up with racism - urging viewers to do their bit to show their support to "their black brothers and sisters".
She said: "Firstly, I'm a mother to a 15-year-old black boy, so when I saw that image of George Floyd I saw my brothers, I saw my father, I saw my son - I saw everybody's son and I was disgusted to my core.
"It hurt me to the pit of my stomach to think that this is 2020 and we're seeing that, and let's be honest it's been going on for my whole life,my mum's life, my father's life.
"I believe this movement, Black Lives Matter, is so very important, and it's so wonderful to see my white and Asian brothers and sisters standing by Black Lives Matter because it means they understand.
"They can't understand fully, but they understand what we are going through as black people."
Alison continued: "I'm not trying to offend white people, if you are offended by it then you need to look within yourself.
"It's not about all lives matter, obviously we know that, it's about the fact that if black lives mattered we wouldn't be in this situation now.
"When black lives matter, all lives will matter."
When Phillip Schofield asked Alison how viewers could help, she urged them to educate themselves, read more, and donate if they can.
She added: "Ultimately we are one race, we are the human race. Enough is enough."
Phil praised his co-star's "powerful" words, with Holly Willoughby adding that she had never heard Alison speak with such anguish before.
She continued: "I can feel the pain in you, this generational pain."
Alison replied: "Do you know what, Holly, we grow up with it and we just get on with it.
"But ultimately it does have an effect on your mental health, when I see those images of George Floyd that are put out all the time... That has an effect deeply on your mental health.
"And no offence, you don't see that sort of image floating around of white people that have died, you wouldn't see that image - but obviously it's important that we did see."
The star also acknowledged that while the attack on George Floyd happened in America, racism is just as much of an issue in the UK.
She told viewers: "It is here in England guys, it is. We have to wake up and see what's around us.
"Don't ignore things when you see small micro-aggressions against other people. Speak out.
"Sometimes I don't say something because I don't want to be seen as the angry, aggressive black person. And sometimes my white friends will speak up for me and that is powerful."
Alison also thanked ITV and This Morning for drawing attention to 'Blackout Tuesday', with the broadcaster's screen going black at 11am while Black Lives Matter appeared across the screen.
Blackout Tuesday is today, 2nd June, and originally started within the music industry to protest racism and police violence.
The action encourages people to not post on social media for a day, instead urging them to use the time to research, educate themselves, and donate to the Black Lives Matter campaign.
Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 and is an international movement that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.
George Floyd's death in Minneapolis last Monday sparked protests across America and the world - including London.
A white officer was filmed holding handcuffed Mr. Floyd down to the ground by kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes.
Black Lives Matter protesters chant ‘I can’t breathe’ in London over death of George Floyd in US
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In the distressing footage, Mr. Floyd can be heard pleading for air, and saying that he couldn't breathe before he died.
Yesterday, a medical examiner ruled that his death was homicide, revealing that he died of a heart attack after "sustained pressure on the right side of Mr Floyd's carotid artery impeded blood flow to the brain and weight on his back impeded his ability to breathe".
The autopsy, conducted by Michael Baden and Allecia Wilson, called for the 44-year-old former cop, Derek Chauvin - who has been charged with third-degree murder - to have his degree raised to first-degree.
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