Protests against racism have been organised by community groups, young students and splinter groups of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In Margate a community group called People Dem Collective has organised a march that will end with protesters kneeling by the seafront for eight minutes and 46 seconds on Saturday. George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for that amount of time.
A banner on the group’s Facebook page read: “We’re screaming while you’re streaming.” Another message read: “Let’s stand together as one and show the world that they cannot divide us!”
At 1pm today hundreds of people have been told to dress in black for a protest at the Queens Gardens in Hull organised by a local off-shoot of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Paulina Lee, 17, a restaurant manager and organiser of the gathering, told The Times: “People are politically engaged in Hull and we want to show our support. Racism doesn’t just happen in America, it’s everywhere. We will have guest speakers and will make sure people are socially distancing.” The organisers also plan to hand out facemasks
A peaceful protest organised by two women in Ludlow, Shropshire, is to take place on Friday with guest speakers.
Erin White, 19, a student, said: “We’re the ones that are going to change the world, although that’s really cheesy, it’s our future. I think it’s so important because living in Herefordshire and Shropshire, we are very shielded from what is going on.”
The event has received criticism on Facebook, with locals saying it will cause a second wave of the coronavirus after 12 weeks of lockdown.
However, the organisers emphasised that social distancing would be observed and face masks would be mandatory for all who attend.
Ella Mapes, 20, added: “We are working to make sure everyone feels safe and protected, we don’t want to attract any unnecessary criticism, which just takes away from the message.”
It comes after a group called Topple the Racists, which is connected to the Stop Trump protest group, uploaded a list of 60 statues that they want destroyed.
On Saturday there will be protests starting from 1pm in London, Reading Forest of Dean, Ramsgate, Chelmsford and Southport, among others.
In Brighton protesters will gather near the pier for a “peaceful silent protest” with no chanting or shouting.
Thousands of people have signed up for the event on Facebook. They are being told not to group together and to adhere to social distancing rules, keeping two metres apart. Protesters are also encouraged to wear facemasks and bring banners.
A poster shown on the Brighton Black Lives Matter Instagram account said, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
•Yorkshire Tea and PG Tips have urged those who oppose the Black Lives Matter campaign not to buy their products. After Laura Towler, a right-wing blogger, tweeted that she was “dead chuffed that Yorkshire Tea hasn’t supported BLM”, it said: “Please don’t buy our tea again . . . we stand against racism.” PG Tips joined the conversation, adding: “If you are boycotting teas that stand against racism, you’re going to have to find two new tea brands now.”
