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Anti-Racist Protests Grow Outside Downing Street As Boris Johnson Holds Coronavirus Press Briefing

Protesters and police came face to face outside Downing Street as thousands of people flooded central London for a Black Lives Matter demonstration in response to the death of George Floyd.

A crowd of demonstrators and officers were involved in brief scuffles, reports suggest, during a stand-off on Wednesday afternoon outside the gates of the prime minister’s residence.

Video posted on social media showed objects being thrown at police and officers scuffling with unidentified people. One reporter at the scene said it happened after police “appeared to take a protester from the crowd”.

Police officers detain a protester following a clash near Downing Street.
Police officers detain a protester following a clash near Downing Street.

Yards away, Boris Johnson was giving a press briefing on the latest coronavirus updates.

Asked what his message to President Trump on behalf of the protesters outside, he said: “We mourn George Floyd and we are appalled and sickened to him.

“And my message to President Trump and everybody in the United States, from the UK, is I don’t think racism and racist violence has any place in our society.”

He added: “I do think people have a right to protest and make their feelings known about injustices such as what happened to George Floyd and I would urge people to protest peacefully and in accordance with the rules on social distancing.”

Tens of thousands of people are taking part in the demonstration, which has so far been overwhelmingly peaceful.

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