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| Black Lives Matter: Police impose conditions ahead of anti-racism protests | Black Lives Matter: Police impose conditions ahead of anti-racism protests |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Restrictions have been placed by police on several groups ahead of planned protests in London this weekend. | Restrictions have been placed by police on several groups ahead of planned protests in London this weekend. |
| The Metropolitan Police said several protests are scheduled in the capital on Saturday, including a Black Lives Matter demonstration. | The Metropolitan Police said several protests are scheduled in the capital on Saturday, including a Black Lives Matter demonstration. |
| Measures including requiring the events to end at 17:00 BST are in place following violent scenes last weekend. | Measures including requiring the events to end at 17:00 BST are in place following violent scenes last weekend. |
| But the police force warned protesters to reconsider attending at all due to the coronavirus pandemic. | But the police force warned protesters to reconsider attending at all due to the coronavirus pandemic. |
| "We are asking you not to come to London, and let your voices be heard in other ways," Met Commander Bas Javid said. | "We are asking you not to come to London, and let your voices be heard in other ways," Met Commander Bas Javid said. |
| The restrictions come in the wake of violence and serious disorder in Westminster at the end of protests last weekend. | The restrictions come in the wake of violence and serious disorder in Westminster at the end of protests last weekend. |
| While police said those demonstrations were on the whole peaceful, there were dozens of arrests and 27 police officers were injured. | |
| The new conditions, set out on the Met's website, apply to Black Lives Matter, and to left and right-wing groups that have notified the force of their intention to demonstrate on Saturday. | The new conditions, set out on the Met's website, apply to Black Lives Matter, and to left and right-wing groups that have notified the force of their intention to demonstrate on Saturday. |
| Restrictions include a specific route for Black Lives Matter demonstrators between Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square, where they will be permitted to assemble until 17:00. | Restrictions include a specific route for Black Lives Matter demonstrators between Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square, where they will be permitted to assemble until 17:00. |
| Similar regulations applied to right-wing groups require them to assemble in Parliament Square and some parts of Whitehall, again until 17:00. | Similar regulations applied to right-wing groups require them to assemble in Parliament Square and some parts of Whitehall, again until 17:00. |
| The Met said police officers routinely talk to organisers before and during an event to minimise disruption and disorder. | |
| "Policing demonstrations is complex and challenging, not least during a global health crisis," Commander Javid added. | "Policing demonstrations is complex and challenging, not least during a global health crisis," Commander Javid added. |
| "We will continue to police any protests with the aim of keeping people safe and preventing crime and disorder." | "We will continue to police any protests with the aim of keeping people safe and preventing crime and disorder." |
| A Black Lives Matter demonstration took place in central London on Friday evening with leaders of the march urging those in attendance to keep the demonstration "peaceful" and not to join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend. | A Black Lives Matter demonstration took place in central London on Friday evening with leaders of the march urging those in attendance to keep the demonstration "peaceful" and not to join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend. |
| Hundreds of campaigners surrounded Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square after walking from Hyde Park, as around two dozen police officers watched on. | Hundreds of campaigners surrounded Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square after walking from Hyde Park, as around two dozen police officers watched on. |
| 'Absurd and shameful' | 'Absurd and shameful' |
| Earlier, a statue of war-time leader Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was boarded up to protect it from potential damage. | Earlier, a statue of war-time leader Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was boarded up to protect it from potential damage. |
| The move was branded "absurd and shameful" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. | The move was branded "absurd and shameful" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. |
| Mr Johnson said the former prime minister had expressed opinions which were "unacceptable to us today" but remained a hero for saving the country from "fascist and racist tyranny". | Mr Johnson said the former prime minister had expressed opinions which were "unacceptable to us today" but remained a hero for saving the country from "fascist and racist tyranny". |
| Protesters daubed "was a racist" on Churchill's statue last weekend. | Protesters daubed "was a racist" on Churchill's statue last weekend. |
| In a series of tweets, Mr Johnson urged people to "stay away" from demonstrations amid the coronavirus pandemic. | In a series of tweets, Mr Johnson urged people to "stay away" from demonstrations amid the coronavirus pandemic. |
| "We cannot try to edit or censor our past," he wrote of moves to remove tributes to historical figures. "We cannot pretend to have a different history." | "We cannot try to edit or censor our past," he wrote of moves to remove tributes to historical figures. "We cannot pretend to have a different history." |
| Other monuments have been removed ahead of separate protests planned over the weekend, while the Cenotaph war memorial, in Whitehall, has also been covered. | Other monuments have been removed ahead of separate protests planned over the weekend, while the Cenotaph war memorial, in Whitehall, has also been covered. |
| In Poole, Dorset, a statue of Scouts movement founder Robert Baden-Powell is to be cladded instead of removed. | In Poole, Dorset, a statue of Scouts movement founder Robert Baden-Powell is to be cladded instead of removed. |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said other "key statues", including one of Nelson Mandela, would be protected. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said other "key statues", including one of Nelson Mandela, would be protected. |
| It comes after the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the river in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest on Sunday. | It comes after the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the river in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest on Sunday. |
| Demonstrations have been taking place across the world following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. | Demonstrations have been taking place across the world following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. |
| Mr Johnson said that, while he understood "legitimate feelings of outrage" at Mr Floyd's death, the "only responsible course of action" was to "stay away from these protests". | Mr Johnson said that, while he understood "legitimate feelings of outrage" at Mr Floyd's death, the "only responsible course of action" was to "stay away from these protests". |
| The prime minister said the demonstrations had been "hijacked by extremists intent on violence". | The prime minister said the demonstrations had been "hijacked by extremists intent on violence". |
| He added that whatever people's feelings about the cause they should not support a demonstration which "in all probability" would "end in deliberate and calculated violence". |