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including the Black Lives Matter protests, Daisy Edgar-jones’s stylist on her success, and it’s sales season!

wasn’t a video?’ was the unsettling question inscribed on a number of placards at the Black Lives Matter protest in London’s Hyde Park on 3 June. Without the footage of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis on 25 May, which shows white police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, there’s a chance his death wouldn’t have gone on to spark the international outrage it did.

However, it was documented and the tragedy has triggered a revolution and a renewed hunger for change. It has galvanised thousands of people around the world to join protests calling for an end to racism and police brutality, after the devastating video circulated of Floyd’s final moments and his words: ‘I can’t breathe.’

Floyd’s is, of course, only the latest in a string of brutal, horrific deaths of African Americans in police custody. Those also led to protests, but many say the unrest feels different this time – and hope this moment will become a movement. This time, it has

‘WHAT IF THERE

caused millions of people to examine their own prejudices and pledge to educate themselves on racial inequality, with relevant books topping best-seller lists and businesses assessing how they can do better.

It has seen a rise in calls for Black history to be added to the UK school curriculum and for the police to be defunded in the US; it has led to the statue of slave-trader Edward Colston being torn down and thrown in the harbour by protestors in Bristol, a statue of slave-trader Robert Milligan being removed in London and to calls for other monuments to racist historical figures to be toppled around the country.

In London, protesters said the unrest is more intense because they are tired, outraged and determined. Chants of ‘enough is enough’ and ‘no justice, no peace, no racist police’ filled the air, as helicopters hummed above the overwhelmingly peaceful march. The racially diverse crowd was a sign of how people of every colour are standing in solidarity. Protesters wore face masks and kept a two-metre distance where they could; the fight for justice too urgent to stay home.

Photographer Misan Harriman, who joined Grazia on the day, says he didn’t think people would join the march because of the pandemic. ‘But no one saw this cause exploding and becoming the movement that it deserves to be,’ he says. ‘It’s hugely important to people from all backgrounds and they came to show solidarity while keeping as safe a distance as they could. The bottom line is, they had to be there.’

He hopes pictures of the demonstrations will help to change the world. ‘Many images have changed the path of decisions made by governments; they are in history books, reminding us of our gravest mistakes and of the finest parts of the human story,’ he says. ‘I hope these images show that we were united in an awful 2020.’

For Misan, covering the protests sparked a mixture of feelings. ‘There have been moments of deep reflection; I was reminded of open wounds I sometimes forget are there. I also felt pride and hope in seeing so many people with empathy in their hearts.

‘Many of us can’t change what’s happening in America directly, but we can make sure we’re aware of the history of racism and call it out; we can educate ourselves to make sure we are not victims of ignorance that can lead to misunderstanding another person’s culture. Most importantly, we can educate the younger people in our families, so they are equipped to understand the complexities of the structures of systemic racism, from the earliest days of one’s schooling, to how the criminal justice system works for one person and fails another. There’s no denying that there is a lot for us all to take in and learn, but the good thing is people have decided to try.’

In a moving speech to Floyd’s six-year-old daughter Gianna at his funeral in Texas, presidential hopeful and former Vice President Joe Biden said she shouldn’t have to ask the question that so many Black children have had to ask over the years: ‘Why is daddy gone?’

‘Now is the time for racial justice. That’s the answer we must give to our children when they ask, “Why?”’ Biden said. ‘Because when there’s justice for George Floyd, we will truly be on our way to racial justice in America. And then, as you said Gianna, your daddy will have changed the world.’

Aichia Dieng, 25, student and waitress (on left) ‘It feels like we’re failing as humans. All this violence, I can’t even express how angry and sad it makes me feel. I watched the George Floyd video and it filled me with rage; he wasn’t even resisting. We keep seeing these things that shouldn’t happen. There’s been such a big response this time because we’re tired. Now is the time to speak up and be listened to. I never expected so many people to come out and protest this around the world, but days like today, seeing everyone fighting for this, give me hope, because we’re not going to be silent any more.’

> Grace Pearce, 17, fashion student ‘The scary thing about this incident is that we might not have known about it if it wasn’t filmed. It shows there could be so many other events that we don’t know about around the world. That makes me feel angry and helpless. I’m here because every person counts and it’s important to make a statement and support your Black brothers and sisters.’

Yonkel Chamberlain, 44, hair stylist ‘I cried when I saw the mix of people here. I felt emotional and overwhelmed that people from every walk of life were here to support us, and they’re holding Black Lives Matter signs, not All Lives Matter, because our house is burning right now, not anyone else’s. In the UK, racism exists: stop oppressing us and let us be successful and recognised for what we’ve brought to the table. Let’s stop misunderstanding and mistrusting. I’m not going to mug you; I’m not going to hurt you. I want us all to live together harmoniously. When there’s unity like this it has to shake the Government to wake up. It feels so huge and intense right now, I feel hopeful that, this time, change will happen.’

Kristy Harper, 32, DJ ‘I’m fed up. I want equality for everyone. It’s something I’m passionate about and aware the system has been broken for too long. Inequality is getting worse and it’s a perfect storm right now, after our country handled coronavirus so badly, we’ve been in isolation and now a horrific incident like this. It really feels like something is changing.’

Sara Al-juneidi, 22, teaching assistant ‘The inhumanity we’ve seen has to stop. My dissertation was on the civil rights movement. I learned how legislation changed as a result of past protests. In the UK, people think racism doesn’t exist. It can be subtle, but even little comments uphold racism. We have a long way to go, but today shows we have a lot of support.’

Photographer Misan Harriman at the London march on 3 June