Protest at racism takes to streets of London
HUNDREDS of demonstrators took to the streets of west London to take part in the first ever Million People March to protest against what they claim is systemic racism in the UK yesterday.
Organisers said they hope the march will continue the conversations about race started by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and give the BAME community “a louder voice”.
It took place this year in lieu of the annual Notting Hill carnival, though organisers said they were aiming to incorporate the same spirit of freedom through peaceful protest.
Around 400 demonstrators walked along Bayswater Road from Notting Hill tube station, finishing in Hyde Park.
At several points along the way the crowd stopped, sitting down in the road and even breaking into a rendition of Redemption Song by Bob Marley, as demonstrators raised their fists.
The march was organised by Ken Hinds, an adviser to Scotland Yard, Sasha Johnson, a youth worker and activist, rapper 2 Badda, and author Anthony Spencer.
Mr Spencer said fighting systemic racism was a “huge task” and likened the struggle to rowing “from one side of the Atlantic to the other”.
“This is not a hardened protesters march – this is a family protest march for people who don’t normally protest,” he said.
“This is a million people march because of the numbers, we’re trying to have a louder voice.
“This is like a rowing expedition from one side of the Atlantic to the other side on a little boat.
“You start rowing but that rowing will stop at some point when you get to the other side, and that’s how we see this fight.
“It’s a huge task.”
Mr Spencer said the movement aimed to introduce a new initiative, the Race Offenders Register, to prosecute those committing race offences.
“This is a fight that can be won by laws. This is why the Million People March is asking about laws,” he said.
“The Race Offenders Register is a tool that we believe can begin the changing of behaviour right across wherever racism exists.
“We’re looking at bringing in laws to protect our black citizens.
“We protect everything else. We protect dogs, we protect eagles, we protect dead statues.
“Let’s protect people for a change. Let’s protect black people.”
“Once we see there’s actual true intention to protect the lives of black people and change systemic suffering, we will stop marching and we will work with the Government.”