Boris Johnson: Anti-racism protests ‘subverted by thuggery’

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mentioned anti-racism protests on the weekend have been “subverted by thuggery” after some demonstrators clashed with police.

Mr Johnson mentioned individuals had the appropriate to protest however participating in violence was a “betrayal” to the protesters’ trigger.

1000’s of individuals attended largely peaceable demonstrations in cities throughout the UK on the weekend.

However unrest within the capital on Sunday led to eight officers being injured and 12 individuals being arrested.

The Metropolitan Police’s Superintendent Jo Edwards mentioned following a “predominantly peaceable protest”, officers have been confronted with additional “scenes of violence and dysfunction” which have been “solely unacceptable”.

The vast majority of the arrests in London have been for public order offences and one for felony injury.

Mr Johnson condemned the violence, posting on Twitter: “Folks have a proper to protest peacefully & whereas observing social distancing however they haven’t any proper to assault the police. These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery – and they’re a betrayal of the trigger they purport to serve. These accountable will likely be held to account.”

1000’s of protesters gathered on Saturday and Sunday in London, in addition to cities throughout the UK together with Bristol, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Protests have been typically peaceable, with aerial footage exhibiting 1000’s of demonstrators flooding the roads exterior the US embassy in Vauxhall, south London, earlier than marching in the direction of Parliament Sq. and Downing Road.

However there have been some clashes with police, notably within the capital.

A police officer acquired a head harm and a Part 35 dispersal order was issued on Sunday night time till 06:00 on Monday.

As darkness fell, strains of police in riot gear took up positions to comprise a small group of protesters in Westminster, the BBC’s Tom Symonds mentioned.

Bottles have been thrown at officers and police issued a dispersal order for the Metropolis of Westminster, compelling individuals to go away the realm.

And in Warwickshire, protesters induced the closure of the M6 for round an hour following on from the demonstrations in Coventry metropolis centre.

Slave dealer’s statue torn down

On Sunday protesters in Bristol used ropes to drag down the bronze statue of Edward Colston, a distinguished 17th Century slave dealer, who has been a supply of controversy within the metropolis for a few years – his legacy can nonetheless be seen on Bristol’s streets, memorials and buildings.

After the statue was toppled, a protester was pictured together with his knee on the determine’s neck – harking back to the video exhibiting George Floyd, the black man who died whereas being restrained by a Minnesota police officer.

The statue was later dragged via the streets of Bristol and thrown into the harbour. The empty plinth was used as a makeshift stage for protesters.

House Secretary Priti Patel condemned the tearing down of the statue as “totally disgraceful” and Avon and Somerset Police confirmed there can be an investigation into the “act of felony injury”.

Elsewhere, in Parliament Sq., the statue of Sir Winston Churchill was sprayed with graffiti, and a Black Lives Matter signal hooked up – an act described as “silly and counterproductive” by international workplace minister James Cleverly.

In the meantime, opposition MPs have criticised feedback made by Well being Secretary Matt Hancock that protests have been fuelled by occasions in America “relatively than right here”.

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy mentioned that racism and prejudice exist within the UK, in addition to throughout the Atlantic, and that to recommend there may be solely an issue within the US “reveals actual ignorance”.

Mr Lammy tweeted: “Folks on this nation are usually not solely exhibiting solidarity with George Floyd and different African Individuals. We should flip this second into one in all change and justice within the UK too.”

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