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Hundreds expected at Black Lives Matter march in Manchester Hundreds attend Black Lives Matter solidarity march in Manchester
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of protesters are expected to march in Manchester to demonstrate against the police shootings of two black men in the United States. At least 1,500 people have gathered in Manchester as part of the Black Lives Matter protest movement spreading around the world.
The event – called Black Lives Matter, Manchester Stand in Solidarity – follows similar demonstrations in London, Birmingham and Bristol over the weekend. About 1,300 people have expressed interest on Facebook in attending the march, which will start in Alexandra Park and follow a route to the city centre on Monday. Young, old, black, white, some in wheelchairs, others in buggies, with afros, dreadlocks, baseball caps and hijabs, they turned out peacefully at Alexandra Park in Moss Side, which was at the centre of the city’s gun crime epidemic 10 years ago.
The organisers PAC45Foundation Ltd urged communities to join forces against “police brutality”, saying: “Justice will not be given, it must be fought for.” All were present to show solidarity with the victims of police violence against black people in the US and to reflect on race relations in the UK. Francesca Ricketts, a 20-year-old fashion student, said: “Although the police aren’t as brutal here as in America, there are still cases of police brutality.”
She was carrying a banner bearing the name of Sarah Reed, a young black woman who was found dead in her cell at Holloway prison this year. In 2012, Reed was at the centre of a police brutality case when a Metropolitan police constable, James Kiddie, was caught on CCTV yanking her by the hair, dragging her across the floor, pressing on her neck and punching her several times in the head.
Ricketts said black people in Manchester were discriminated against in subtle ways, citing the example of her own father. “I remember one day he had been doing the garden so needed to go to B&Q. He was wearing a tracksuit because he’d been gardening, and he was followed around the store the whole time by security. Then there’s if you’re driving home late at night and you notice the police are following you,” she said.
Though the skies had cleared by the time the rally began at 6.30pm, Theresa Douglas, better known as Miss Motivator, a presenter on the local Radio Diamond station, arrived with a box of umbrellas and ponchos donated by Manchester businesses. “Black businesses, Asian businesses, white businesses, they all wanted to help,” she said.
Douglas claimed her son had been a victim of police brutality in the UK after being mistaken for an armed robber. She said she was fearful for the future of her children. “I’ve got two black sons and four black daughters, plus eight black grandchildren. I’m marching for their peace of mind. They are not always safe on our streets.”
Douglas said she was particularly nervous about Moss Side’s annual carnival, which takes place each August.
Another protester in the crowd, Elizabeth Joy, a singer, carried a homemade banner saying “I’m white but even I know #BlackLivesMatter”.
The event followed similar demonstrations in London, Birmingham and Bristol over the weekend. The organisers of the Manchester event, PAC45Foundation Ltd, urged communities to join forces against police brutality, saying: “Justice will not be given, it must be fought for.”
There will be further demonstrations later in the week, in Leeds on Thursday and Liverpool on Saturday. More protests are expected in Birmingham.There will be further demonstrations later in the week, in Leeds on Thursday and Liverpool on Saturday. More protests are expected in Birmingham.
The shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota triggered the latest wave of protests across the US and now the UK.The shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota triggered the latest wave of protests across the US and now the UK.
Sterling, 37, was shot dead on 5 July after two officers wrestled him to the ground and appeared to open fire shortly after one of them held a gun over his chest. The shooting in Baton Rouge will be investigated by the US Department of Justice’s civil rights division, after disturbing mobile phone video of the incident emerged.Sterling, 37, was shot dead on 5 July after two officers wrestled him to the ground and appeared to open fire shortly after one of them held a gun over his chest. The shooting in Baton Rouge will be investigated by the US Department of Justice’s civil rights division, after disturbing mobile phone video of the incident emerged.
Castile, 32, was shot the next day by officer Jeronimo Yanez after Castile was stopped for a broken rear light while he was driving with his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her young daughter. Reynolds live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting online.Castile, 32, was shot the next day by officer Jeronimo Yanez after Castile was stopped for a broken rear light while he was driving with his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her young daughter. Reynolds live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting online.
On Thursday five white police officers were killed after being targeted by a gunman at an anti-violence rally in Dallas, Texas. The gunman, Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old army veteran and member of the New Black Panther party, told police he was upset about the shootings of black men and wanted to target white officers. He was later killed by police using an explosive device carried by a bomb disposal robot.On Thursday five white police officers were killed after being targeted by a gunman at an anti-violence rally in Dallas, Texas. The gunman, Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old army veteran and member of the New Black Panther party, told police he was upset about the shootings of black men and wanted to target white officers. He was later killed by police using an explosive device carried by a bomb disposal robot.
On Friday and Saturday hundreds of people gathered in Windrush Square in Brixton, south London, bringing traffic to a standstill as they marched to the police station and through neighbouring streets chanting “black lives matter” and “hands up, don’t shoot”. There was also a mass protest in central London on Friday.On Friday and Saturday hundreds of people gathered in Windrush Square in Brixton, south London, bringing traffic to a standstill as they marched to the police station and through neighbouring streets chanting “black lives matter” and “hands up, don’t shoot”. There was also a mass protest in central London on Friday.
The founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in London, Marayam Ali, told the Voice newspaper that she hoped the marches would show that the UK was standing in solidarity with “our American brothers and sisters”.The founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in London, Marayam Ali, told the Voice newspaper that she hoped the marches would show that the UK was standing in solidarity with “our American brothers and sisters”.
On Sunday another demonstration was held at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre,
and outside a police station in the centre of the city, where demonstrators demanded to know whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would prosecute over the death in custody of Kingsley Burrell, 29, who died of cardiac arrest after being arrested by West Midlands police.
An inquest in May 2015 concluded that prolonged police restraint contributed to Burrell’s death. The CPS said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone involved, but the Independent Police Complaints Commission has asked the CPS to review its decision.
In Manchester, protesters will gather at 6pm at the Claremont Road/Princess Parkway entrance to Alexandra Park, where there will be a number of speakers. At 7pm the march will move towards the city centre.