Thousands of Black Lives Matters protesters have packed into Parliament Square despite ministers pleas for them to stay home amid the coronavirus threat.
Huge crowds descended on the nation’s capital brandishing signs and chanting on the second weekend of demonstrations following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in the US.
But the protests come amid warnings that coronavirus remains a real threat to safety and social distancing measures are essential.
Thousands of Black Lives Matters protesters have packed into Parliament Square despite ministers pleas for them to stay home amid the coronavirus threat
Thousands of people descended on the nation’s capital brandishing signs and chanting on the second weekend of demonstrations following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in the US
But the protests in London today (pictured) come amid warnings that coronavirus remains a real threat to safety and social distancing measures remain essential
Two police officers were seen arresting a man in Parliament Square during the protests in London
Priti Patel (pictured this week) urged Black Live Matters protesters not to attend mass demonstrations this weekend due to the coronavirus threat
The Home Secretary said people should not gather in groups larger than six because Covid-19 ‘remains a real threat’
Priti Patel yesterday said people should not gather in groups larger than six because Covid-19 ‘remains a real threat’.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘Please for the safety of all of us, do not attend large gatherings – including protests – of more than six people this weekend.
‘As Matt Hancock said, coronavirus remains a real threat and people must protect themselves and their families from this horrific disease.’
Her statement echoed that of Health Secretary Matt Hancock who yesterday said he was ‘appalled’ by the death of Mr Floyd, but stressed that the UK was still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remained a ‘real threat’.
Mr Hancock told the daily Downing Street briefing on Friday he could understand why people were ‘deeply upset’, but said people in the UK should not attend large gatherings.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday warned Britons not to attend large scale anti-racism demonstrations this weekend due to the risk of coronavirus
Her warning comes ahead of mass anti-racism protests planned in various locations across the UK following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in the US. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
Mr Hancock told the daily Downing Street briefing on Friday he could understand why people were ‘deeply upset’, but said people in the UK should not attend large gatherings. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
Their warnings come ahead of demonstrations planned in Parliament Square in London on Saturday and the US Embassy in the capital the next day. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
He added: ‘Like so many I am appalled by the death of George Floyd and I understand why people are deeply upset but we are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat.
‘The reason that it is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease.
‘So please, for the safety of your loved ones, do not attend large gatherings including demonstrations of more than six people.’
Their warnings come ahead of demonstrations planned in Parliament Square in London on Saturday and the US Embassy in the capital the next day.
An estimated 4,000 people are expected to attend a demonstration in Bristol, which will include a march through the city to Castle Park on Sunday, Avon and Somerset police said. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
An estimated 4,000 people are expected to attend a demonstration in Bristol, which will include a march through the city to Castle Park on Sunday, Avon and Somerset police said.
Unrest was sparked after the death of African American Floyd who was killed when a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
Black Lives Matter is projected onto the Palace of Westminster last night as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
Despite Floyd’s desperate pleas that he ‘can’t breathe’, white police officer Derek Chauvin continued to press down. Floyd passed out and later died in Minneapolis on May 25.
People got down on one knee for an anti-racism protest in London’s Trafalgar Square despite police warning that such mass demonstrations could be viewed as unlawful.
Those who took part in the tribute to Floyd knelt two metres apart in the shadow of Nelson’s Column, wore masks and carried homemade placards which condemned racism and brutality.
Unrest was sparked after the death of African American Floyd who was killed when a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said earlier that such protests should not take place under current coronavirus restrictions. Pictured: Protesters in Parliament Square yesterday
But Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said earlier that such protests should not take place under current coronavirus restrictions.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The health protection regulations are really clear that it is unlawful.’
His warning came after large crowds marched in London and Birmingham this week to protest about the treatment of Floyd, 46.
Video footage shows Floyd gasping that he cannot breathe during the arrest by four officers. They have since been charged over the death which sparked days of protest in the US and Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations across the world.
Clashes have broken out between police and protesters in the US, with officers recorded firing tear gas and rubber bullets on crowds. Some people looted shops.
Unrest was sparked after the death of African American Floyd who was killed when a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Pictured: A protester carries an illustration of George Floyd at a rally in New York on Friday
A protester is arrested on Fifth Avenue by NYPD officers as they cracked down on people violating the 8pm curfew on Thursday night
Police began to move in on crowds and carried out arrests after thousands remained on the streets on Thursday night in New York City
During the Trafalgar Square demonstration, Dee Ndlovu said: ‘I kneel because of the names and the voices that have been lost to the wind.
‘I kneel for the ones who are not heard and the ones who do not get a hashtag, the ones who do not get pictures or a social media campaign, the ones who have been forgotten in history and time. I kneel because of them.’
Taking a knee is a peaceful gesture to protest against police brutality which was first carried out by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem at an American Football game in 2016.
The protest came after pockets of protesters clashed with police as thousands of people flooded into central London and abandoned social distancing for a BLM demonstration on Wednesday.
After a largely peaceful demonstration in Hyde Park, during which Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an impassioned speech, tensions later escalated outside Downing Street. There were 13 arrests.
In an open letter to the British people on Friday, US ambassador to the UK Robert Wood Johnson said it was through peaceful protest that injustice was most successfully addressed.
He added: ‘The US Embassy in London is united with the British public in grief over the tragic death of Mr George Floyd, which deserves universal condemnation.
‘We offer our deepest condolences to the Floyd family.
‘His death is a reminder that as a nation we must do more to fight racism and injustice.’