How To Go To A Black Lives Matter Protest During The Coronavirus Lockdown
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Two major world events have collided on streets around the world as thousands upon thousands of people protest over the killing of George Floyd in cities that are in various stages of coronavirus lockdown.
Balancing social distancing with the need to protest is throwing up difficult scenarios for some Brits.
Here’s HuffPost UK’s guide to protests this weekend...
Are protests going ahead?
This is an easy one – yes. Large protests are planned across the UK, including in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A march was planned in Leeds but has since been cancelled.
A more complete list of events plus times and congregation points can be found at the end of this article.
Are they legal?
Technically, meeting in a protest-sized group is not allowed under current coronavirus legislation across the UK.
Speaking at the Downing Street briefing on Friday, health secretary Matt Hancock pleaded with the public to avoid anti-racism protests which break lockdown rules this weekend as “coronavirus remains a threat”.
But police force’s in England have suggested they will not disperse crowds so long as they remain peaceful and maintain social distancing.
Speaking on Radio 4′s Today programme on Friday, Laurence Taylor, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said it was “clear” that such protests are “unlawful”.
He added: “So we would strongly encourage people not to come out and gather in these large numbers because they are putting themselves and others at risk.”
But he then went on to say: “And if they do come out, then we would ask them to observe that social distancing, think about those around them.”
Other forces around the country have taken a similar line. Greater Manchester Police told HuffPost UK in a statement they would “monitor the situation” and stressed the importance of social distancing.
Speaking...
