Taking a knee: Scots join worldwide Black Lives Matter protests
● Sturgeon urges Scots to donate to community bail funds ● Rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow over George Floyd killing
Campaigners in Scotland called on people to ‘Take The Knee’ in solidarity with George Floyd, during a peaceful protest at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh. Around 60 people joined the event organised by Stand Up To Racism, with many others said to have joined in across the country.
Opposition parties have called on the UK government to ban exports of crowd suppression equipment including rubber bullets to the United States amid mounting anger at police tactics towards protesters.
It came as Nicola Sturgeon criticised Donald Trump’s handling of his country’s race riots and urged the US president to stop “attacking the protesters.”
The First Minister backed calls for Scots to donate to “community bail funds” for jailed protesters following the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, while he was being arrested.
Mr Floyd died after a white officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on 25 May, sparking days of protest and looting.
Last night the charge against former officer Derek Chauvin was elevated to second-degree murder. The other three officers, who reportedly watched and did nothing, face counts of aiding and abetting murder.
All four were sacked by the department.
At Westminster, Boris Johnson was challenged over his response to the unrest that has swept American cities, with the SNP’S Ian Blackford called for a review of exports including rubber bullets and tear gas.
Last night rallies in support of the Black Lives Matter movement were held in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with thousands also gathering in London’s Hyde Park and marching on Westminster.
Star Wars actor John Boyega was among those to speak at the rally before protesters.
As the march passed Downing Street, there was a brief flashpoint between protesters and police, with a handful of marchers being detained and reports that an officer was assaulted. Elsewhere, some police were seen “taking a knee” in a gesture of solidarity.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, the SNP’S Westminster leader asked Mr Johnson whether he had raised the violence in the US with President Trump and challenged the Prime Minister to say that “black lives matter”.
“Of course black lives matter, and I totally understand the anger and the grief that is felt not just in America but around the world and in our country as well,” Mr Johnson replied.
“I totally understand that, and I get that. I also support, as I have said, the right to protest.
“The only point I would make to the House is that protests should be carried out lawfully and, in this country, protests should be carried out in accordance with our rules on social distancing.”
At the Downing Street coronavirus press conference, Mr Johnson added: “We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him.
“And my message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States, from the UK is that I don’t think racism – it’s an opinion I’m sure is shared by the overwhelming majority of people around the world – racism, racist violence, has no place in our society.”
Ms Sturgeon said during First Minister’s Questions today she felt “solidarity” with the Black Lives matter movement.
“We are all looking on with concern and horror at the scenes unfolding in the United States,” the First Minister told MSPS.
“I believe the president of the United States has a duty to address the underlying causes of the protests – the legitimate protests we are seeing – rather than continuously attacking those protesting.”
Ahead of further demonstrations planned this weekend, Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie urged Scots who are considering joining a protest this weekend to “act responsibly” and observe social distancing.
He added: “Perhaps better is something we can do from home – donating to the community bail funds to support those who have experienced the authoritarian response that we are witnessing on our screens.”
The First Minister said she “would certainly echo that” and added that all Scots want to “make their voices heard” on the issue, but warned mass gathering could be a risk to health.
“I would appeal to people to make their voices heard safely and not to put themselves and others at risk,” she said.