DAY RAGE EXPLODED IN BRITAIN

THOUSANDS of protesters took to the streets of London yesterday in solidarity with US anti-racism demonstrators – before anger boiled over.

At least 15,000 gathered in Hyde Park, with many holding up signs reading ‘Enough is enough’, ‘Black lives matter’ and ‘I can’t breathe’ in honour of George Floyd.

But after a peaceful march, police clashed with protesters. Up to 2,000 blocked Whitehall, with some climbing on the Cenotaph and others on cars. Placards were waved beneath the statue of Winston Churchill.

Crowds also gathered at Downing Street. Unaware of what was going on outside, Boris Johnson said he was ‘sickened’ by the death of Mr Floyd, a 46-yearold African-American who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes in Minneapolis last week.

The Prime Minister said: ‘My message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States, from the UK is that ... racism and racist violence has no place in our society.’

But outside two protesters scuffled with officers. As they were restrained, police were pelted with plastic bottles. A TV cameraman was attacked and had to be taken away as he bled from a head wound. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat tweeted: ‘This is shameful. Protest in sympathy, sure, but don’t attack our police who have done so much to protect all of us.’

Earlier in the day, Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an emotional speech in Hyde Park. The 28-year-old, who was friends with Damilola Taylor, killed in Peckham in 2000, said: ‘Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something.’

The star added that it was important to make the protest as ‘peaceful and as organised as possible’.

Billie Piper, Liam Payne and Dua Lipa also attended the march.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘I’m sickened at George Floyd’s death. But protests must be peaceful.’

Police clashes as thousands hit streets of London in echo of US race protests

Plea: John Boyega in Hyde Park Anger: Crude sign beneath the statue of Winston Churchill

Struggle: A protester in a red hooded top grapples with police officers near the entrance to Downing Street

March on Westminster: As many as 2,000 protesters – many of whom brought placards reading Black Lives Matter, or BLM – raise their fists in solidarity with US demonstrators in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament

Clash: The hooded man and a fellow demonstrator

of whom brought placards reading Black Lives Matter, or BLM – raise their fists in solidarity with US demonstrators in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament

Hemmed in: Group of protesters waving placards gather around a police car in Parliament Square

are restrained by police, who were pelted with plastic bottles