What started off as calls for racial equality and justice in the UK descended on Saturday, June 13, into violent standoff between Black Lives Matter and those who…
Over 100 people have been arrested in London following another day of social unrest that saw anti-racism demonstrators clash with rival protestors.
About 15 people, reportedly including six police officers, were injured during clashes in central London on Saturday between Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters and counter-demonstrators who, according to widespread British media reports, included members of the “far-right.”
In the days running up to Saturday, it was widely anticipated that a face-off between the two sides was likely. A number of activist groups, such as the Democratic Football Lads Alliance and the English Defence League, pledged to protect statues of historical figures like Winston Churchill that had been the target of BLM protestors in previous days. However, it has also been widely reported that ordinary Brits who were simply concerned about the vandalising of statues of celebrated national figures turned up to protect them.
The London Ambulance Service is said to have treated 15 individuals who were injured at the protests. Six members of the public were reportedly taken to hospital. According to Sky News, there was “widespread and sustained disorder” at the protests.
Last week during a large BLM protest in London – sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in the US, by a Minneapolis police officer – protestors defaced the monument of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square by writing “was a racist” under his name.
