Hundreds join city centre protest over racism
LEICESTER JOINS OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD IN PROTESTS SPARKED BY DEATH OF UNARMED BLACK MAN IN US POLICE CUSTODY
“NO justice, no peace.” “I can’t breathe.” “Everything hurts.”
These were some of the words chanted at Leicester’s Black Lives Matter protest in the city centre on Saturday.
The protest was one of many that took place across the UK over the weekend to demand change following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police officer knelt with his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes in the US city of Minneapolis on May 25.
Before the protest began, a crowd of around 100 people waited around the Clock Tower, including stewards prepared with gloves and hand sanitiser, all sheltering from heavy downpours of rain.
By 1pm, a sea of placards filled High Street, Humberstone Gate and Gallowtree Gate as the crowds swelled.
The demonstration was organised by a number of people who came together over a WhatsApp group, which quickly grew into a 100-strong network.
“We’re here today because black lives matter,” one of the organisers said.
He was met with loud cheers and the applause from the growing crowd, most of whom were wearing face masks.
Every voice was heard loud and clear - predominantly powerful, young voices.
“I hope they’re listening, we’re stood here in solidarity,” said Marik Erskine, an 18-yearold speaker.
His speech and many others demanded change – change within government, change within education and change within attitudes.
Sophie Clarke, a 21-year-old white woman from Leicester, spoke of her experience of white privilege.
“As white people, we must understand why there isn’t a white lives matter movement,” she said.
“It’s because we don’t need one, in the same way that a straight Pride is not needed,” she said.
Her speech can be watched in full in our coverage of the protest on our website.
One of the youngest speakers, a 15-year-old girl, spoke honestly about anti-blackness in her South Asian community and her own household.
She said: “It’s not enough not to be racist. You have to actively be fighting racism. If you are not standing up, you are sitting with the oppressor.”
Yasmin Musse, a 25-year-old secondary school teacher, gave a speech demanding change in the British education system and curricula. She said in her speech: “As a black female teacher working in this system, it can become disheartening knowing that regardless of how hard you try to improve the lives o f your students, who are predominantly children of colour, the cards are stacked against them.”
At 2pm, the protestors fell silent and took a knee in tribute to George Floyd for nine minutes.
For those who were unable to kneel, heads were bowed and fists raised.
Many who kneeled had to swap knees or adjust their positioning within the nine minutes – a stark reminder of how long Derek Chauvin, the police officer who restrained Mr Floyd, had knelt on his neck.
He has since been charged with murder.
I went to the protest today to hopefully spark some change. We can’t live like this anymore
O’Neall Rawle
Simone James, a 27-year-old teacher and mum from Leicester, was unable to attend the protest but said she wished she could because of what it embodied.
She said: “It’s an opportunity for everyone to unite and to raise awareness of the inequality and injustice that black people suffer on a daily basis.
“To hear (George Floyd) saying he can’t breathe and to hear him calling out for his mum and the police officers not helping him absolutely broke my heart and made me question humanity.
“I think one of the biggest changes that need to happen is in education.
“There needs to be more awareness of black history and the history of other minorities as well - we shouldn’t just have one month of black history, it should be embedded throughout the national curriculum.”
Throughout the protest, organisers asked people to maintain distance between each other and gloves, masks and hand sanitiser were distributed.
One of the stewards, a 50-year-old mum, told the Mercury: “We’re here supporting the protest, for it to be a calm, focused protest for George Floyd and all black lives.
“Things like these have gone on for too long.
“It’s not just about black people, it’s about everyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation or background. This is something close to my heart.
“I was born and bred in Leicester and I’ve seen a lot of positive change in my time, but this is something that needs recognition.
“It’s about positivity, unity and active communication.”
O’Neall Rawle, a 27-year-old teacher, said he was “exhausted” of inequality.
“I went to the protest today to hopefully spark some change,” he said.
“We can’t live like this anymore, I shouldn’t have to be taught to ‘act white’ to be successful.
“I shouldn’t have to do my own research on black history because I was taught about Henry VIII instead.
“I shouldn’t have to teach my younger cousins what to say when they get stopped and searched.”
His frustration was echoed throughout the protest, which ended with a two-minute silence before black balloons with the letters BLM written on them were released.
■ A further protest, by different organisers, is set to take place in Victoria Park this evening.
At 6pm, those who wish to join can gather at the Arch of Remembrance to take a knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
Organisers say the demonstration is scheduled to last for up to an hour.