Huge crowds of Black Lives Matter protesters march through London and surround Churchill statue in Parliament Square as up to 5,000 anti-racism activists gather in Leeds
- Sea of peaceful protesters holding placards walked through the Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park, Leeds, today
- In London hundreds of protesters flooded the capital’s at Hyde Park before heading towards Downing Street
- Scenes come just week after demonstrators in Leeds ‘took a knee’ as they gathered in Millennium Square
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A sea of protesters arrived for marches in Leeds and London today to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement sweeping across the country.
Up to 5,000 protesters holding placards walked through Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park, Leeds, this afternoon in solidarity with the worldwide movement that was sparked following the police killing of George Floyd in the US.
Meanwhile in London, hundreds of protesters flooded the capital’s famous Hyde Park before heading towards Downing Street in support of the anti-racism campaign.
Today West Yorkshire Police confirmed that armed officers would be patrolling the protest in Leeds which began at around 2pm today.
People gather on Parliament Square next to a statue of Winston Churchill during a Black Lives Matter protest, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Westminster, in London, June 21, 2020
Protesters surround a statue of Winston Churchill during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square, Westminster, London
A man reads a book while standing in front of the Churchill statue in Parliament Square, with police officers standing nearby
Another view shows the man standing reading his book while a protester kneels holding a fist to the air
Black Lives Matter protests are continuing across the UK following the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. The movement has triggered the removal of statues with links to racism
The scenes come just a week after thousands of demonstrators in Leeds ‘took a knee’ as they gathered in the heart of the city in Millennium Square for a protest organised jointly by Black Lives Matter and Black Voices Matter.
Last week the peaceful protests were marred in some parts, with some skirmishes breaking out in Leeds, with reports of far-right activists defending a memorial.
And in Glasgow rival groups were seen clashing with police near the city’s George Square, as BLM supporters attempted to campaign for the removal of a statue of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel.
However, police claimed the clashes were not related to a Black Lives Matter protest, despite photos showing hundreds of far-right loyalists who claimed to be defending the statue from being pulled down.
Black Lives Matter protesters hold placards as they take part in a anti-racism march i Woodhouse Moor in Leeds, this afternoon
Two protesters wearing protective face masks hold placards at a gathering in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds today
Armed police officers stand with a protester and have a photograph taken during a Black Lives Matter protest rally at Woodhouse Moor in Leeds
Meanwhile in London a protester wearing a facial visor stands among a group of protesters during a rally in the capital’s Hyde Park
In Leeds, a group of protesters wearing protective face masks hold placards as they attend a march organised by the Black Lives Matter movement
A group of activists stand take part in the Black Lives Matter protest in Woodhouse Moor in Leeds today following the police killing of George Floyd in the U.S
Two protesters pose for a photo in Woodhouse Moor in Leeds, as they attend an anti-racism march in support of Black Lives Matter
People flood the streets of London holding banners in support of the Black Lives Matter protest, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis
Protesters kneel on the ground with their fists in the air as they take part in the Black Lives Matter protest in London today