Of Trafalgar Sq FIREWORKS
Protesters’ fury over Paris cops
VIOLENT AS FAR RIGHT KICKS OFF
to perform Nazi salutes in front of barricades that separated them from police just yards from Downing Street.
In one incident a man urinated against the memorial to PC Keith Palmer, murdered by a terrorist outside Parliament in 2017. Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who risked his own life to try to save PC Palmer, called it “abhorrent”, adding: “Absolute shame on this man.”
Another MP, Labour’s Jess Phillips, described “harrowing scenes” outside her place of work, adding: “These people have caused me to be scared.” Violence later broke out beneath Nelson’s Column and among the famed lions of Trafalgar Square as BLM protesters faced off against pro-statue marchers.
One man was beaten to a bloody pulp just before a 5pm curfew when 1,000 protesters ignored requests to go home.
Fights also broke out between rival groups and police at Waterloo Station with missiles and fireworks thrown.
Police had ordered the two groups to proceed along separate routes, with BLM supporters divided from the counter protesters by barricades in places.
But far-right mobs broke through the lines, leading to police being targeted as groups confronted one another.
Ex-england footballer and race campaigner Stan Collymore hit back at the mob’s claim to be looking after the nation’s heritage by saying: “Keep your f***ing mouths shut about protecting your history. Most of you don’t even look after it yourselves.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned the “unacceptable thuggery”, which saw demonstrations in Liverpool, Newcastle Bolton, Glasgow and nine other places.
In Bristol, where the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was torn down and dumped in the docks last week, protesters shouted “scum” and “fascists” at BLM supporters.
Up to 15,000 gathered in Brighton in largely peaceful scenes interrupted by rival protesters claiming they had come to defend the city’s war memorial.
A group of 30 threw bottles and food containers towards the marchers before cops moved in to contain things.
In Bolton scuffles broke out between rival factions with the police forced to intervene to keep the two sides apart.
Around 200 BLM demonstrators “took a knee” in a symbolic act to remember George Floyd, the African-american whose death sparked mass riots in the US and worldwide condemnation. But they were heckled by protesters waving Union flags and wearing England shirts.
amy.sharpe@mirror.co.uk
Paris yesterday
THOUSANDS of antiracism protesters united in Paris yesterday against police violence.
One banner in the Place de la Republique read: “Hope I’m not killed for being black today.”
Another said: “Sow injustice, reap a revolt.”
Riot police kept watch in surrounding streets.
The crowd was addressed by Assa Traore, whose brother Adama, 24, died in a Paris suburb after three police officers held him down in July 2016.
JUSTICE
She said: “The death of George Floyd has a strong echo in the death of my little brother.
“What’s happening in the United States is happening in France. Our brothers are dying.”
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner this week acknowledged there were “proven suspicions of racism” within French police.
Police unions said officers were being scapegoated for deeprooted social ills. Cops held their own protests across France this week.
Far-right activists on a roof overlooking the crowd yesterday had a banner reading, “Justice for the victims of antiwhite racism”.