'Tearing down statues doesn't help black people' - Racial justice activists urge peaceful protest

Around 60 protesters wearing face coverings walked from Green Park to Trafalgar Square today, partly to condemn the violence which erupted at some of the protests last week. Pic: Yui Mok/PA

Racial justice activists in England have marched in the pouring rain through central London urging Black Lives Matter supporters to demonstrate peacefully.

Around 60 protesters wearing face coverings walked from Green Park to Trafalgar Square today, partly to condemn the violence which erupted at some of the protests last week.

This comes ahead of planned racial justice demonstrations as well as counter-demonstrations by far-right group Football Lads Alliance this weekend.

Imarn Ayton, 29, from the group Justice For Black Lives, said the fact supporters had turned up despite the weather showed their “genuine commitment” to the cause.

People gather for a Black Lives Matter protest at Green Park in London today. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire

“Don’t get me wrong, I want those statues down.

“But shouting at Boris Johnson outside Downing Street does not help black people.

“We are here for peace – black people are seen as violent, black people are seen as aggressive, and black people are seen as angry, so we are trying to stop that stigma.”

Ms Ayton, who described herself as a “full-time activist,” added that the movement should be about “more than social media”.

It isn’t to do with your black box on Instagram, it’s about saying this movement isn’t going away.

Another protester, Elen Ekpaloba, 23, said the tearing down of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol “was power to the people”, but urged followers to pursue a more peaceful direction to enable “the start of a revolution”.

A woman passes Black Lives Matter graffiti on Whitehall, in Westminster, London, today. Pic: Dominic Lipinski/PA

“That’s why they (Football Lads Alliance) are coming out on Saturday, why they want to fearmonger, and make us feel inferior.

“This is the start of a revolution, this is the start of people finally coming together and saying ‘No more’.”

Protesters said they would be staging another demonstration in Hyde Park, central London, on Friday, and were drafting a list of demands for the British Government.