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| #BlackLivesMatter briefly blocks road to Heathrow Airport, more action planned across UK | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Activists from Black Lives Matter’s newly launched UK chapter blocked a major road to London Heathrow, Britain’s busiest airport, on Friday morning. Police have made arrests. | |
| The group is calling for a day of rebellion across Britain with more demonstrations planned in London, Manchester and Nottingham. | The group is calling for a day of rebellion across Britain with more demonstrations planned in London, Manchester and Nottingham. |
| Hundreds of people are expected to attend the events, which fall on the fifth anniversary of the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in Tottenham in summer 2011, and five years on from the riots that swept England as a result of his death. | Hundreds of people are expected to attend the events, which fall on the fifth anniversary of the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in Tottenham in summer 2011, and five years on from the riots that swept England as a result of his death. |
| At Heathrow Airport, protesters had been lying across the road with signs saying “Black Lives Matter” and “This Is A Crisis.” | At Heathrow Airport, protesters had been lying across the road with signs saying “Black Lives Matter” and “This Is A Crisis.” |
| Drivers are being warned to avoid the M4 southbound towards the major London terminal. | |
| A police spokesman said: “Police at Heathrow are dealing with a demo. | |
| “A number of people were reported to be blocking the road leading to the airport. Officers have attended. | |
| “A number of people have been arrested. One lane has been opened but there is traffic congestion. Police continue to deal with the situation at the scene.” | |
| A Heathrow spokesperson said the protest did not appear to be causing people to miss flights, saying: “Heathrow supports the right to peaceful protest within the law, but the safety and security of our passengers, aircraft and colleagues, together with the smooth running of the operation, is paramount. | |
| “We are sorry to those passengers whose journeys are being disrupted and we are working with the authorities to resolve the issue.” | |
| Birmingham Airport traffic also ground to a halt after protesters blocked the road. | Birmingham Airport traffic also ground to a halt after protesters blocked the road. |
| A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said five people have been arrested for “causing an obstruction,” according to the Express. | A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said five people have been arrested for “causing an obstruction,” according to the Express. |
| In Nottingham, activists are also lying on the roads in protest, blocking traffic between Parliament Street and Market Street. | In Nottingham, activists are also lying on the roads in protest, blocking traffic between Parliament Street and Market Street. |
| A Nottinghamshire police spokesman said: “Officers are currently on scene and are negotiating with a small number of protesters. | |
| “Our priority will remain the safety of everyone involved and to bring the demonstration to a peaceful conclusion.” | |
| There have been several Black Lives Matter protests in the UK in recent weeks, in solidarity with citizens marching against police shootings in the US. | There have been several Black Lives Matter protests in the UK in recent weeks, in solidarity with citizens marching against police shootings in the US. |