Star date: 6th June 2020

PROTESTERS PRAISED BY MANC COUNCIL LEADER

Manchester City Council leader, Richard Leese has praised the thousands of people who attended the Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester this afternoon for their "exemplary behaviour", adding that "The discrimination and victimisation of anyone because of their race is an abhorrence that has no place in our world."

The peaceful protest saw a rally and a march through the city centre with people chanting 'Black Lives Matter'...

Full details here...

Thousands of mainly young people attended the Black Lives Matter protest today, packing out the whole of Piccadilly Gardens in a massive show of solidarity with communities both in the UK and America.

The initial meet was followed by a march around the city centre, down Market Street, Deansgate and St Peter's Square before arriving back in Piccadilly, with people chanting 'Black lives matter', 'No justice, no peace', 'I can't breathe' and 'Say his name, George Floyd'...Most took the knee to remember the 46 year old who died in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.

Manchester City Council Leader, Richard Leese, later praised the demonstrators for their "exemplary behaviour" as the demo remained calm and peaceful throughout...

"The discrimination and victimisation of anyone because of their race is an abhorrence that has no place in our world, and any trace of bigotry must be removed from our society" he added "For this reason, Manchester has always and will always support the right to peaceful protest as the foundation of a fair and just society.
 
"We must stand in solidarity beside those who face discrimination and victimisation, be vocal and create a platform for their voice to be heard" he explained "On Tuesday this week we lit Wythenshawe Hall in purple, and Central Library on Friday night, to give visibility to this solidarity.
 
"In the wake of Covid-19, however, it would be irresponsible not to urge caution around mass demonstrations at this time" he insisted "A right to protest should always be protected, as should our people's health. We remain in a precarious position as we continue the fight against coronavirus, the pandemic is not over, and social distancing remains vital.
 
"I understand the fire that has been lit in the hearts of Manchester residents since the death of George Floyd - and with good reason" he concluded "It is extremely difficult to maintain social distancing and keep a large gathering of people safe in the city centre. The R number, the reproduction rate for Covid-19, is back above one, so use your voice, but do so safely."

Meanwhile, Ian Allinson, President of Manchester Trades Union Council, also sent a message of solidarity...

"Black and ethnic minority people have been targeted disproportionately by the police over alleged or actual breaches of the lockdown regulations, including well-publicised incidents in Manchester, such as a black man in Fallowfield who was arrested and threatened with pepper spray while delivering food to vulnerable family members and Desmond Mombeyarara being tasered in front of his young child" he wrote

"British police behaviour (including arrests, holding people close together for hours) at some of the protests in solidarity with George Floyd made distancing much more difficult rather than facilitating safe protest" he added "The contrasts between this, the failure to take action over the assault on rail worker Belly Mujinga, and the treatment of Dominic Cummings are stark.

"We encourage people to take part in protests against racism and police violence, and to show solidarity with the struggles in the USA and around the world" he explained "The coronavirus legislation must not be used to curtail the right to protest, however we urge people to take distancing and other precautions very seriously – black and ethnic minority people are at higher risk from Covid 19 and Black Lives Matter whether it comes to violence or the coronavirus.

"We express our commitment to the struggle against racial injustice here and internationally and our solidarity with all those in the frontline of that struggle, as trade unionists and as human beings" he concluded.

All the Greater Manchester local authority and Combined Authority leaders, including Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, also sent a message of support...

"The callous murder of George Floyd on the streets of Minneapolis has sent shockwaves around the world which are being powerfully and painfully felt here in Greater Manchester" they stated "As Leaders, we want to express our revulsion at the manner of George's death, our sympathy with his family and our complete solidarity with the Black community here and elsewhere.

"We know the anger and the agony is real" they added "Discrimination continues every day, not just in the USA but in the UK too. People are tired of having to fight it..."

As a result they promised to "commit to strengthening our dialogue with the Black community and to working with Operation Black Vote's Leadership Programme to improve representation"; to bring forward proposals for a Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel; and to publish a quarterly Race Equality Policing Report on the use of policing powers.

"We have a long and proud history in Greater Manchester of confronting discrimination head-on" they states "This is a moment to challenge ourselves to do more. The best way of marking the life of George Floyd is with a promise of real change..."

There is a further protest tomorrow, Sunday 7th June, 2pm at St Peter's Square in Manchester.

Words and photos by Anya Kingston and Mikey Kingston