Black Lives Matter.. but so do Irish lives
MEDICAL chiefs have issued stark warnings on social distancing ahead of the next Black Lives Matter march.
Thousands of people came out in Dublin on Monday in solidarity with US protesters who have taken to the streets since the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota last week.
But Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said events like that one and another planned for the capital on Saturday can put lives at risk by spreading transmission of Covid-19.
He added: “The matter is now under investigation by gardai.
“We are still clear the advice now is not for mass gatherings to take place indoors or outdoors.
“We would advise anybody who is contemplating organising a mass gathering for whatever reason, now is not the time.
“If you intend on attending a capital. Along with Black Pride Ireland, they have urged people to bring facemasks and antibacterial hand sanitising gel where possible.
They have also said they will mark two-metre intervals on the ground to help people adhere to social distancing guidelines.
And organisers are encouraging people to isolate for 14 days after the protest in case they have come into contact with a carrier of coronavirus.
Speaking yesterday Dublin rapper Jyellowl, who helped set up the rally, said they hadn’t anticipated the turn out of people.
He added: “The atmosphere was incredible but we couldn’t have expected that sort of turn out.
“We expected maybe 50 or 100 people.
“As a black person, it was heartwarming to see so many non-black people stand with us and be just as compassionate.”