Statement re Justice for George Floyd solidarity protests – #TakeTheKnee on your doorstep Wednesday 3 June 6pm
See list of socially distanced local protests below with links to Facebook event pages
We stand in solidarity with George Floyd. We send our condolences to his loved ones. We stand for #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd. We say #BlackLivesMatter
We are outraged that yet another black person has been killed at the hands of the police in the USA. The events unfolding in the USA are a product of hundreds of years of racism and oppression of black communities, which has led to countless lives lost.
The events also take place in the context of black communities disproportionately dying as a result of and infected by Coronavirus, the highest levels of unemployment, which is rising fast due to the rapid economic contraction taking place. So black people are disproportionately affected by police brutality, unemployment, economic hardship and the coronavirus.
We understand the anger that has motivated people to come out and protest across the USA and also here in Britain.
We must remember that we are in the midst of the deadly coronavirus global pandemic. The UK has one of the worst death tolls in the world. Around 34 per cent of those that died were from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME). According to the Financial Times (FT) cautious estimate, 64,000 people have died, much higher than the government’s figure. That means around 21,000 people from BAME communities have died in the last 10 weeks.
We agree with the scientists and others who say the government’s easing of the lockdown is too premature because the number of daily new infections and deaths are currently too high. There is a risk that the measures to prematurely ease the lockdown will lead to a second wave of infections that will disproportionately impact on BAME communities.
We urge all those protesting in solidarity with George Floyd to ensure that they remain socially distanced to protect the people taking part. This is in the best interest of the health and safety of our communities.
Local Stand up to Racism groups organising protests must ensure they are socially distanced, and should disperse if it becomes impossible to do so.
Stand up to Racism urges everyone to #TakeTheKnee on their doorstep this Wednesday 3 June at 6pm.
https://facebook.com/events/s/take-a-knee-for-george-floyd-g/646159756241573/?ti=icl Glasgow
https://facebook.com/events/s/black-lives-matter-take-the-kn/2285790108384486/?ti=icl Newham
https://facebook.com/events/s/black-lives-matter-justice-for/182181583153786/?ti=icl Cambridge
https://facebook.com/events/s/blacklivesmatter-show-your-sol/359160508396928/?ti=icl Newcastle
https://facebook.com/events/s/york-justiceforgeorgefloyd-pro/2709736045922824/?ti=icl York
https://facebook.com/events/s/day-of-action-take-a-knee-for-/303640247323716/?ti=icl Oxford
https://facebook.com/events/s/blacklivesmatter-show-your-sol/547009135989509/?ti=icl Leeds
https://facebook.com/events/s/manchester-black-lives-matter-/3052927694783715/?ti=icl Manchester
https://facebook.com/events/s/blacklivesmatter-show-your-sol/700180117425228/?ti=icl Sheffield
https://facebook.com/events/s/day-of-action-justice-for-geor/304159813931620/?ti=icl Portsmouth
https://facebook.com/events/s/day-of-action-bham-take-a-knee/258078922202264/?ti=icl Birmingham
https://facebook.com/events/s/black-lives-matter-virtual-pro/1191239421221186/?ti=icl Norwich
https://facebook.com/events/s/vigil-justice-for-george-floyd/1390397644484793/?ti=icl Hackney
https://facebook.com/events/s/vigil-justice-for-george-floyd/2293441337632326/?ti=icl Waltham Forest
https://facebook.com/events/s/solidarity-with-george-floyd-b/671265973715825/?ti=icl Tower Hamlets
https://facebook.com/events/s/protest-justice-for-floyd-blac/261812268400676/?ti=icl Lewisham
https://facebook.com/events/s/socially-distanced-protest-bla/565365271056779/?ti=icl Harlow
https://facebook.com/events/s/day-of-action-justiceforgeorge/1092204031181240/?ti=icl Lancaster