Thousands take to London streets to protest racism, George Floyd death
Category: News & Politics
Via: perrie-halpern • 6 years ago • 61 commentsBy: Linda Givetash (NBC News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
LONDON — After almost a week of violence in cities across the United States following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands took to the streets of central London on Wednesday to protest racism and show solidarity with their American counterparts.
On a gray and dreary day in Britain's capital, the crowd met in Hyde Park, near Buckingham Palace, before walking toward the country's Parliament.
Some chanted "Justice now." Others held placards reading "Black lives matter" and "We can't breathe" — the last words uttered by Floyd, 46, before he died after a then-Minnesota police officer pushed his knee on his neck during an arrest last Monday.
The officer, Derek Chauvin,was fired and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter Friday. Three of his fellow officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng were fired by the Minneapolis Police Department the day after Floyd died.
Since then, days of protests in Minneapolis and multiple U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles and Houston have led to violence and civil unrest — and also sparked demonstrations overseas.
Fires broke out in Paris on Tuesday evening as thousands defied a coronavirus related ban to denounce the death of Adama Traore, a black Frenchman who died in police custody four years ago and pay homage to Floyd.
Demonstrations have also taken place in a number of other French cities and other countries including Ireland, Brazil and South Africa, as well as New Zealand and Australia.
In London, the gathering was largely peaceful, although minor scuffles broke out between protesters and the police later.
A protester kneels during a Black Lives Matter protest in London's Hyde Park on Wednesday. Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
While many ignored social distancing rules, in place to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, most were wearing masks.
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Vula Malinga, 40, told NBC News that Floyd's death has struck a nerve because racism affects everyone worldwide.
"It's important people understand it's not an American thing. It's a global thing," she said.
Malinga, an American citizen with South African heritage, added: "It's not going to change overnight for sure but it needs to start now."
She said she would protest outside the U.S. Embassy in London this weekend. She added that she was encouraged by the many white people and other ethnicities who have joined the protests "so that we can actually move forward together."
Her fellow protester Gary Tatham, 24, said that minorities around the world could relate to the experiences of their American counterparts.
He said there had been "many injustices" in the U.K. and that as a black man, he felt wary of the police.
"I do have my guard up," he said, adding that he thought about whether he was "dressed right" or looked "like a thug."
American citizen Vula Malinga, center right, protests in London on Wednesday. Linda Givetash / NBC News
However, Emily Holligan, 35, said it felt like there was "a little bit of solidarity for an issue we've been facing on our own for so long."
Having watched the recent wave of racial tensions in the U.S., she said: "I felt like I needed to be doing something, something that means more than just posting on social media."
"I wanted to know that people were noticing the cause and it wasn't just a hashtag, that it was actually people who genuinely cared about black lives and wanted to see something change," she said.
A protester kneels during a Black Lives Matter protest in London's Hyde Park on Wednesday. Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
Among the crowd in Hyde Park was "Star Wars" actor John Boyega, who delivered an emotional speech about Floyd's death.
Telling his fellow protesters that he was "speaking to you from my heart", he said: "We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd."
He added: "I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn't the case anymore, that was never the case anymore."
@JohnBoyega at the #BlackLivesMattter protest in Hyde Park today (see thread to hear the speech) ✊ pic.twitter.com/Axs1OMR714
— Pabz♂️ (@pabznotmally) June 3, 2020
Others appeared to be protesting the death of Belly Mujinga, a British railway worker who died from COVID-19 after reportedly being spat at by a man who said he was infected with the virus.
British Transport Police launched an investigation into her death but have since said they would not be taking any further action.
Members of Mujinga's family descended on Victoria Station in London - where she was working at the time of the spitting incident - holding a sign that read "Justice for Belly Mujinga."
American citizen Vula Malinga, center right, protests in London on Wednesday.
While London's Metropolitan Police would not comment on the number of protesters, NBC News and several British news organizations estimated several thousand were in attendance.
More protesters appeared to join as people marched past Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official home at 10 Downing Street to the square in front of Britain's Parliament.
At a later press conference, Johnson said: "We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him."
He added that people had the right to protest but "I would urge people to protest peacefully, and in accordance with the rules on social distancing".
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The British protests are not just in solidarity with Americans , they are also protesting racism in the United Kingdom.
Thousands of Australians take to the streets for Black Lives Matter
Also in Greece, Ireland, Germany, places in Africa....
Switzerland, France, Italy...
This is as remote in the US as you can get. Alaska Natives in
Unalakleet, Alaska
Morning Kavika...Glad all seems to have gone well here with the demonstrations as there is always that feral element bent on destruction. They were very well organised and even handed out masks and hand sanitizer. Our history is nothing to be proud of either when it comes to the Kooris..Their treatment is no better than what happened to your mob, history repeating itself over and over where ever the Brits colonised. ...I look back and hang my head in shame and hope we would learn from our mistakes...But at times it appears not. With hope and people now a lot better informed people should always be treated with respect and dignity..No matter who they are, it is not to much to ask...At least here people can tell the cops off or even go to the extent of pushing the cop off (I would be happy to be charged with assault of an Officer in this case) if I saw anything like what happened to George with out fear of being shot dead. I kept thinking why don't the bystanders push the cop off George and then realised they would probably be shot dead. Yes we have a few rotten apples particularly in WA and the NT with a large Koori population But after seeing the US cops in action I really would give a second thought before calling them over there..Pushing an elderly man over, shooting a man in a wheel chair, dragging people out of cars for no reason, shooting dead my fellow Aussie...Time to go through the Force like a dose of salts and weed out the "rotten apples" so the majourity of the Force really is there to "serve and protect" everyone.
WOW!
I thought racism only occurred in the US...and only by white people.
Who knew!
Then you would be wrong, yet again.
Anyone with an inkling of the history of England would know about
their racism and how they transferred it to their colonies.
Over the years roughly 62 countries gained their independence from the UK.
Only 4 or 5 were predominantly white. USA, AU, NZ, Canada & Newfoundland.
The Brits left a trail of racist BS around the world that won't be forgotten any time soon.
Morning Split...And the Brits have a majour problem in their own country especially against the West Indian, Indian and Pakistani population...But there again the Welsh hate the English, the Scots hate the English, the Irish hate the English and the English hate everyone..Hell even their religion delegates what football team they support..I am more than grateful everyday, my grand parents migrated to Australia in the 1920's from England....
Top of the day to you shona1
I am 5th generation Irish Catholic from Kerry, lol.
I had to prove to the family that we are not at all Viking,
by taking DNA tests.
The Welsh, IMHO, were the survival of the fittest at some low point on the Darwin scale in modern history.
Transferred it to too many people throughout the "Kingdom" during the day,
and are subliminally responsible for a lot of what "Whales" us, and our racist attitudes towars political parties and religions.
.
Sorry, could not let that opportunity pass,
We have nephews in Victoria that summer here occasionally and are somewhat baffled by their American Rootes.
( Sorry another swipe at English Cars,
)
Happy D-Day to ya shona
May we never forget the sacrifices of so many, so that we may flourish.
Shona,
As a child, I lived between New York and London in the '60s and '70s and I found the English to be very intolerant of anyone who was not English, never mind of a different race. They were not too fond of Americans either. They thought we were uncouth and classless. Since I have family there, I have been back many times since then, and attitudes have changed somewhat. But there still is an undercurrent of bigotry for those who are not deemed "English" or less than English.
Well I think its been obvious for some time now that you are particularly uniformed. (But at least you admit it!
I forgot to use the sarcasm font.
Maybe I really am going crazy in my "Older" age, but after looking at all these Pics and Vids being put up in the Media on these protests, It sure does look like the Massive Majority of the protestors are "White".
What.....are the "Others" too busy doing "Other" things
, that hinders their participation in Peaceful "Walk arounds" and Shout outs about "Injustice" ? 
Just an "Observation" on my part !
Maybe I need a "Prescription" change for my "Tri-Focal" glasses ?
who knew....
white people don't like seeing people murdered by cops either
Antifa for sure, but Hell, the "Peaceful Protesters" are mostly White !
lost some in the edit thingy above... my bad
but yepp
white people do not like seeing people murdered by cop either.
is that weird or something?
Seems....based on the "White/Black Kill Numbers" always put out, police seem to kill more Whites than Blacks.
Why aren't "White Folks", or "Black Folks" for that matter, protesting when a "Whitey" is killed by Police too ?
And I can't stand these number "plays" the "Left" likes to use on population v. kill counts as one of those "Based on population numbers, the percentages favor the Whites" thingies …… because there are more White People than Black people" !
What a Dumbfuck response .
560 Whites is still waaaaaay more than 318 Blacks ….. in any math book !
What if they had a protest and no one paid any attention.
It's all getting rather boring and repetitive.
Since the continuing incompetent inaction by the Dem "leaders" who have allowed the rioters and thugs
to take over the streets and raise havoc and promote violence, you would think that the Demo's would
comprehend that all this is ruining what little remains of their reputations and at the same time helping Trump's reelection chances...
that they would put a quick stop to it...maybe call in the National Guard, unmuzzle their police, etc.
It is....but it's not....all at the same time !
At least it's exciting to actually see a "Democrat" totally fucking up in these "Democrat" run Cities during the Pro"Riots".
That IS a "Plus" for the "exciting" side !
"History" is over. Using "History" these days for gain, is just an abuse of the system now !
If you don't know anyone or thing by now.....You will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER Know ANYTHING.....oooooo….oooooo….oooooo !
They kill more Whites?
Thats strange.
(After all, the majority of the population is Black-- in fact they outnumber White nearly 10 to 1. So you wouldn't think they'd be killing more Whites...as Blacks are the majority!!!)
Now there ya go !
One of our "New" problems the "Present" must deal with !
Now you're gettin' it !
Not at all strange.
560 really is a bigger number than 318. Just ask your Math Teacher.
It's never over. It how we are who we are. And there is a relevance to history:
1. “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” – Winston Churchill
2. “People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them.” – James Arthur Baldwin
3. “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree. ” – Michael Chrichton
4. “History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
5. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
6. “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” – Aldous Huxley
7. “Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
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Race obsession and histrionics is not just a fixation of American progressives.
I hope everyone realizes that these protests are a show of force. And the focus of the protests isn't racism; the focus is the police.
The protests are a show of force against the police. Since political leaders must become involved because the mass of protesters are so large and the protests include violence, it's not too much of a stretch to conclude that the protests are a show of force against government authority.
It seems the goal of the protests is to instigate and incite a violent response from government. The protesters resort to increasing violence to elicit a violent response from government.
The protests are not intended to be peaceful since the large mass of protesters are a show of force. And the protests are not intended to address racism since the target of the protests is government exercising authority. The protesters are attempting to interfere with the ability of government to exercise authority.
If that was even remotely true, then why are the right wing Libertarians against this?
Seeing they are supposedly against big government...
Because the protests are also a form of big government. The protesters are attempting to obtain power and control over government through a show of force.
Pure democracy is the most tyrannical form of big government.
Where do you come up with this?
Protesting is not a form of government...
Really? Then what is purpose of protesting?
Millions of people around the world gather to celebrate New Year. But a celebration is not a protest.
The purpose of protest is to change how society is governed using a show of force rather than a referendum. Elections and voting is a form of government that determines how society is governed. Protests are also a form of government intended to determine how society is governed.
Elections are big government by choice. Protests are big government by show of force.
Are you actually going to compare these protests to a lynch mob?
Now I am beginning to think you are joking. One could not actually believe what you type.
Protesting is an act against systemic injustice. Maybe within a government, local or federal.
It is trying to enact change within that government. It is in no way government itself.
Voting is not government. Voting is the act that will put people in said government.
Voting is an act, a choice.
Hunting down a person with the intent to kill them is nothing like looting a store.
Why do you let it take away from the cause...
burning and looting stores helps our economy recover faster... LOL
insurance pays, everything is built brand new and all merchandise replaced at a profit..
kinda like a national hurricane..
I have used insurance more than once and every time after the dust settled including the deductible.
I made a profit because I over-insured things to make up for that deductible
if you do it right that deductible is nothing compared to what can be paid.
the house caught fire, after everything was fixed I knocked 10k off the mortgage with the leftover money
not a penny came out of my pocket for the deductible
somethings did not get replaced, I wanted the money instead.
but fair enough, if you don't work the system, the system will work you
that's unfortunate
rule # 1
never buy property in a flood zone.
that's why rioters will never get a block down our street without being stacked like cordwood
Many businesses, particularly in marginal areas, will not have comprehensive insurance. Many who do, will take the chance to leave.
And the quality of life for those to poor to leave will be even worse.
That's progressive change you can believe in.
Repeating what I said is a confirmation and not a rebuttal.
Fluffy, politically appealing language doesn't change the fact the the protesters are using force in a coercive manner to attempt asserting authority and control over creation of law, enforcement of law, and judicial interpretation and application of law.
Coercing society through threat of violence is an injustice imposed upon society. The protests are using undemocratic means to change how society is governed.
I agree that protests are important. But the protests, as they are happening now, are based upon ignorance and not enlightenment. Stupid people are protesting for stupid reasons to obtain a stupid outcome. People don't even know why they should be protesting. People will toss out politically correct and politically appealing pablum. The George Floyd protests aren't going to change anything because they are too ignorant about what their show of force should achieve.
The protester's 'justice' is no different than dog shit. Anyone can crap on a lawn but the freedom to crap on the lawn isn't justice. The protesters are demanding nothing of importance and are too ignorant to understand why.
So why do a certain subset of the protestors resort to violence and looting and attacking the police.
MUVA and Ender:
The slap-fighting comments in thread @6.1 have been removed. Please keep your discussion civil and on topic.