- SOCIALLY DISTANCED PROTEST WILL TAKE PLACE AT 1PM IN FRONT OF CARDIFF CASTLE TODAY, SUNDAY 31ST MAY, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE REVOLT SWEEPING AMERICA AND TO HIGHLIGHT STATE RACISM IN BRITAIN.
- “I COULDN’T JUST SIT BACK AND NOT DO ANYTHING,” ONE OF THE ORGANISERS TOLD VOICE.WALES
- HUNDREDS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND AS ORGANISERS STRESS THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND TELL PEOPLE TO BRING FACE MASKS. AT RISK PEOPLE AND THOSE THEY LIVE WITH URGED TO STAY AWAY.
- PROTEST CALLED AFTER US CITIES WERE ROCKED BY A WAVE OF ANGER FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE BLACK MAN WHO WAS KILLED BY A COP WHO KNELT ON HIS NECK FOR MORE THAN EIGHT MINUTES AS HE GASPED “I CANNOT BREATHE.”
A demonstration is expected to attract hundreds in Cardiff today in a show of solidarity with protesters in America, who have taken the country by storm following the killing of George Floyd, the black man from Minnesota who was dragged out of his car and held face down on the ground by a police officer kneeling on the back of his neck for over eight minutes.
The organisers of the Cardiff protest say they have been overwhelmed by the response and say they may have to spread out or go to a bigger location to ensure social distancing is observed. They have urged vulnerable people and those they live with to stay away from the protest as concerns are raised about the ongoing threat of Coronavirus and the fact that lock-down measures in Wales remain stricter than those in England. Organisers are asking people to bring face masks.
After video footage emerged in the US showing the entire incident of George Floyd’s horrific death at the hands of the police, protests erupted at the epicentre of the struggle in Minnesota, as black citizens led the charge against police and state racism. By Saturday the wave of rage and anger had swept across the entire country as demonstrators faced down tear gas, heavily armed police and even the US National Guard, who were called in by six US states. President Donald Trump used Twitter to threaten people protesting with an armed response but this did little to quell the outrage.
As people took to the streets in huge numbers, bus workers in US cities refused police requests to transport the growing number of arrested protesters. Police cars were burned and department stores such as Target looted in cities blighted by poverty and inequality.
These remarkable pictures from Associated Press show the true extent of the rebellion sweeping America.
The Cardiff protest has been called today at 1pm in Cardiff in solidarity with people in the states but also to highlight police racism in this country.
One of the organisers, Seun Seriki, told us that she helped call the action to coincide with a similar protest happening in London today.
“I think for me personally, it just makes me deeply sad to see that this is still happening,” she told us.
“But for me it isn’t anything new. This has been going on for a long long time. It’s a weird cycle where something horrible happens in the US and all of a sudden people in the UK are quick to jump up and say “we’re not as bad as them””
“But the truth is we are and solidarity is important because we need to address it together as one, and if people don’t come together then the cycle will just continue. Not just in the US but in the UK as well.”
“I couldn’t just sit back and not do anything.”
Co-organiser Selena Earney said that “solidarity with America is one of our goals… but also to point out the flaws in our own country, and the fact it’s a global issue.”
The protest will take place at 1.00pm today, Sunday 31st May at the front of Cardiff Castle. Organisers are urging social distancing and telling people to stay away if they are at risk or live with someone who is. People have been reminded to bring water, a hat and sunscreen as temperatures are set to soar. See the Facebook event page for more information:
