Black Lives Matter rally in city
A MOCK funeral for victims of “systemic racism” is due to be held in a fresh Black Lives Matter rally scheduled to take place in Coventry city centre this weekend.
A silent march is also planned by organisers Revolution West Midlands (RWM) at the peaceful event, which is set to begin in Broadgate Square.
Demonstrators are being asked to wear allblack clothing and bring personal protective equipment, pens and notepads and “an open mind” to the gathering on Saturday.
The newly-formed group, which has taken part in previous Black Lives Matter protests, has billed the event as its second “public conference” aimed at “unpacking racism and privilege”.
A flyer reads: “Following the ‘mock’ funeral in which we honour those who have died due to systematic racism and institutional failures, we will be holding our 2nd public conference.
“As a collective we will be unpacking what it is to be Black Man, what it means to be a Black Woman and what Privilege is and how we can use it positively.”
The event is planned to begin in Broadgate Square - where the Lady Godiva statue has been the focal point of previous Black Lives Matter rallies - followed by the conference outside Coventry Cathedral.
It is the latest in a series of protests across Coventry and Warwickshire following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25. The demonstrations initially centred around the outrage felt at the unarmed black man’s death, attracting hundreds of people at their peak, but have since morphed into a wider questioning of racism, inequality and discrimination in British society.
Those who have shared the platform include members of RWM, which hosted its first ‘public conference’ in Broadgate Square on June 27.
The group uses the slogan “this ends with us” and says on its website that it “will not stop until justice is met.” An activist from RWM told a Black Lives Matter rally in June that the movement was “at war” with a system that kept people oppressed across the world.
The speaker, introduced to the crowd as Chad, said: “It’s a war against the system, it’s a war against oppression. We cannot afford to be distracted, we cannot be blinded. This is a war we cannot afford to lose.
“We are fighting for the kids in Africa, we are fighting for the kids all over the world.”
An earlier protest on Saturday demanding pay rises for NHS workers not included in the Government’s latest public sector deal will take place in Swanswell Park.
Organisers of that event have encouraged people to stay on and join the Black Lives Matter protest.
The rallies have raised concerns about social distancing and large gatherings but RWM has encouraged those attending its events to take precautions to prevent the spread of Covid19.