Understand our pain, weeping Star Wars actor tells UK crowd
STARWARS actor John Boyega led British protests over the killing of George Floyd, telling demonstrators: “Today is about innocent people”.
The London-born Hollywood star took centre stage as thousands of people crammed into Hyde Park for the anti-racism event staged by Black Lives Matters.
Boyega, 28, said: “I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but **** that.”
The crowds waved banners in support of the US protests and chanted “we will not be silent” in a day of action.
The protests at a number of sites around London remained largely peaceful although there were some scuffles when crowds gathered outside Downing Street.
Pictures showed one policeman punched in the face and items were thrown towards the gates outside
Downing Street. But the low-profile presence – which included some officers “taking the knee” with protesters in a sign of remembrance – seemed to help to keep the peace.
With tears rolling down his cheeks, Boyega said the protest was also about the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence by a white gang in Eltham, south-east London.
He said: “I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing.”
Other famous faces included One Direction singer Liam Payne, 26.As the crowds swelled, social distancing became virtually impossible.
Pressure group Stand Up to Racism urged Britons to kneel on their doorsteps at 6pm, in a protest modelled on American footballer Colin Kaepernick’s gesture.