Bob Marley’s song, One Love, was played on the speakers at Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground as people arrived at the peaceful protest for the movement, Black Lives Matter.
June 7th was an overcast day with wind and rain, but as Nottingham’s protesters filled the park grounds, warmth of unity flooded over the crowd.
Hundreds of people arrived with home-made banners featuring phrases such as, “Stamp out racism”, “Silence supports violence” and “I stand on the shoulders of our ancestors.”
The protesters from all walks of life, including families, young children, elderly and even pets, standing together against racism following the death of George Floyd – an American black man who died following a white policeman kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The death of George Floyd on 25th May 2020 has sparked a worldwide protest against racism and police brutality.
Nottingham’s Black Lives Matter protest, which ran from 12pm to around 2pm, consisted of a range of speakers talking about personal experiences and powerful messages, poets and singers and it finished with an 8-minute silence honouring George Floyd.
The event has taken place during the phased reduction of the UK coronavirus lockdown. Many concerns were raised over the mass gathering, however all members in attendance were encouraged to wear face masks and keep social distance where possible. Free face masks and bottles of water were given out for the duration of the event.
Today (June 8) the Minneapolis Council has pledged to dismantle the police department, stating that a “new model of public safety” would be created.
Words by our editor, Dani Bacon
Photographs taken by Christopher Morgan, you can find him on Instagram @christopher___morgan.
Photographs taken by Mark Kidsley, you can find him on Instagram @markkidsley.
