Niece to late American man, George Floyd who was murdered by a police officer, Brooke Williams has teared into United States of America (US) President Donald Trump as she stole the show in an emotional eulogy.
This came as emotions ran high at the at slain black American’s funeral service as mourners broke into floods of tears as they approached the dad-of-five’s coffin at Houston.
In a video, Williams directed her anger at Trump and Derek Chauvin, the officer who was seen in a viral video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for about eight minutes suffocating him.
“He begged and pleaded just for you to get up. But you just pushed harder. Why must this system be corrupt and broken? These laws need to be changed. No more hate crimes please. Somebody said make America great again. But when has America ever been great?
“Those four officers were literally on him for nine minutes and none of them showed they have a heart or soul. This is not just a murder, but a hate crime,” a teary Williams said.
Floyd’s daughter Gianna made outstanding remarks prior to the service that warmed the hearts of many saying her dad changed the world.
Trump who had earlier called for the shooting of protestors who were demonstrating over the 46-year-old’s death was under fire again on Friday, June 5, when he suggested Floyd was sitting in heaven happy about a slight better US jobs report than expected.
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka is Assistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships; Robert Piper is Assistant Secretary-General, Director of Development Coordination Office; and Ulrika Modéer is Assistant Administrator of UNDP & Director of Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy.
Coronavirus pandemic threatens crises-ravaged communities as UN appeals for global support. Credit: United Nations
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 9 2020 (IPS) – The COVID-19 pandemic upended almost every aspects of life as we know it. Even those countries that are supposed to have the means to manage the spread and mitigate the effects are struggling.
Besides the $5 trillion stimulus package that the G20 economies agreed to deal with the pandemic, individual countries are also devising various measures to shore up their health care systems, stabilize their economies, and assist affected workers and businesses.
Even before the full brunt of the coronavirus outbreak reached some of the poorest countries, the economic impacts are already being felt. With declining global demand for raw materials, breakdown of global supply chain, and mounting debt burden, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to exceed $220 billion.
The urgent shouldn’t crowd out the important
With greater uncertainty and fear of global recession looming large, governments are looking for resources needed to lessen the socio-economic pains of the crisis. In this process, official development assistance (ODA) won’t be spared and could come under increased scrutiny.
Decisions made now will have potentially devastating – or transformative – impact for years to come. Despite the economic and political pressure, we must protect ODA, which is needed more than ever.
The spread of COVID-19, especially in places with weak governance and health infrastructures, is expected to be overwhelming if the international community does not act now.
For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, many countries have the lowest number of physicians per capita in the world while some experience ongoing conflicts, making it difficult to fight the virus.
Credit: UNFPA
The collateral impact of COVID-19 on health, education and nutrition systems will be extremely damaging, and in many cases irreversible, for children and society at large. And when the world opens up again, the resilience of the weakest health systems will dictate how well we do against future threats.
The UN Secretary General argued that “this human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action—and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries.”
It is critical for the international community to fulfil the humanitarian appeal for COVID-19 response while protecting existing commitments to long-term development and other ‘silent’ emergencies.
Doing so will help protect the most vulnerable people from being exposed to the effects of COVID-19 and preserve hard-earned development gains in fighting global poverty and expanding basic services.
Left to their own devises, fragile nations may risk the breakdown of socio-political order, civil unrest and state collapse, further exacerbating the dire situation.
Flexible funding key to tackling COVID-19
COVID-19 is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a development crisis. Development agencies are supporting countries to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the crisis.
The effectiveness of their response to certain degree depends on the flexibility afforded to them in funding and operational procedures.
To tackle this uniquely complex health and development crisis, the adequacy and flexibility of funding to development agencies are pivotal. Flexible “core” funding is already making a difference in the COVID-19 response to reach people in need faster, empower local actors, deploy essential supplies to the frontline, and protect the most vulnerable – children, refugees, women.
This enabled the affected communities to practice due diligence and self-driven discretion to immediately respond to threats of the pandemic, while waiting for the pledged assistance to arrive. For instance, in Nigeria, funding flexibility allowed UNICEF to come up with an innovative solution to fight misinformation around COVID-19 while UNDP was able to support the government double the ventilator capacity in the country.
Collaboration, not competition
The COVID-19 pandemic is a devastating crisis in history. But it also posits an opportunity to remind the global community why multilateralism is vital to securing the world’s peace, security, and prosperity.
We witness how the health crisis of today’s globalized world interlinks global economy, geopolitics, and social values. Our effective response to the public health crisis should be seen as key to resolving the ensuing economic, humanitarian, and development challenges.
Understanding this interlinked and complex reality of COVID-19, governments need to work together closely to take coordinated actions and share scientific information, resources and expertise.
It is this strong motion for collaboration that underpins the UN agencies commitment to reinforce the humanitarian-development nexus to jointly respond to the COVID-19 crisis, working closely through the UN Crisis team, humanitarian response plan, UN Response and Recovery Fund for COVID-19.
For example, in Guinea-Bissau, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM joined hands to help build isolation facilities and triage space, and procure necessary equipment for COVID-19, both for the national hospital as well as for the re-modelling of the UN clinic.
With strong solidarity and effective cooperation, the international community will not only arrest COVID-19, but also use the emergency to build back better health systems and a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
This is a summary of the trending, highest impact, and most active themes and their narratives related to social cohesion and division in South African public-domain social media conversations from 5 to 7 June 2020.
Standing up together
As the Black Lives Matter movement and worldwide protests continue to dominate social media conversations, more business leaders are demonstrating their support publicly.
On Friday Reddit co-founder @alexisohanian announced his resignation in a Twitter thread and appealed for his replacement to be a black candidate: “I co-founded@reddit 15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging. It is long overdue to do the right thing. I’m doing this for me, for my family, and for my country.” The tweet has received over 25,100 retweets and 167,600 likes.
Others called on black executives to transform their organisations. South African businessman @G_XCON tweeted, “If you are the only Black person on any Board of Companies for a period of 12 months, just know that you are more of a problem than those racist that you serving with on that satanic Board.” The tweet gained traction with 186 retweets and 557 likes.
Following international solidarity over the killing of George Floyd, many have begun sharing other injustices plaguing black communities around the world. Twitter user @kidistbogale retweeted a post by @tayjordz that depicts gruesome images of black people as slaves in modern day Libya: “black lives matter applies ALL AROUND THE WORLD btw”. The tweet generated over 70,300 retweets and 102,700 likes. And
The @britishmuseum showed their support for the BLM movement – their 4-part thread included a link to a statement: “‘The British Museum stands in solidarity with the Black Community throughout the world. Black Lives Matter – Director Hartwig Fischer.” Read Hartwig’s thoughts and response here: http://ow.ly/st5S30qMVSO”. The tweet received over 2,800 retweets and 640 likes.
Incidents of police brutality continue to circulate on social media, fuelling protests and calls for reform in the US policing system. On Sunday film director and writer @avaretweeted a post by @_SJPeace showing a video of a white male police officer lying on top of a black woman, choking her: “Everyday. Everywhere. For. Black. People. This. Is. A. Very. Real. Possibility. White. People. Get. To. Ask. And. Argue. And. Assert. We. Must. Submit. And. Comply. Or. Else.” The tweet got 43,400 retweets and 83,700 likes.
Actor and musician @jaden echoed these sentiments, tweeting “In The African American Community Police brutality Has Reached A Incomprehensible Level And Governmental Changes MUST Be Made.#BLM” The tweet has 1,500 retweets and 8,800 likes.
Pointing fingers
Helen Zille expressed her disapproval of schools remaining closed: “This attempt to keep schools closed is highly irresponsible, and will do more damage to children’s lives than Covid. The only people who should stay home are children with dread diseases, or staff with co-morbidities.” Zille’s tweet received 1,000 likes and 326 retweets, with most comments disagreeing with her opinion, especially her belief that herd immunity will stop the spread of Covid-19.
The tweet was a response to an EWN.co.za article about previous DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s fight against the Concourt ruling to reopen schools. Maimane has advocated for schools to stay closed until proper safety measures have been implemented. Maimane responded to Zille’s tweet in a light-hearted manner, saying she chose to “throw shade” at him on his birthday.
On 3 June @PhumlaniMMajozi tweeted about organisations he claimed were destroying South Africa. Although the tweet was posted earlier in the week, it gained traction during the weekend, with over 1,700 likes, 518 retweets and 122 comments. Phumlani Majozi, a South African political researcher and commentator, named four organisations he believed were responsible for the destruction of South Africa over the past 15 years: the ANC, the SACP, Cosatu and other unions and the EFF. Some Twitter users agreed with him, while others asked him why he doesn’t start his own party and why he excluded organisations such as the DA, SANDF and BLF. Since posting the initial tweet, Phumlani has not commented or engaged with the tweet or the comments received.
Xenophobia bursts out
The hashtag #PutSouthAfricansFirst appeared in a tweet posted by @landback at 15:09 on Sunday 07 June. Accompanying the tweet was an image of a petition board reading: “We want our country back” together with an image of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The tweet states: “South Africans are busy mobilising to protest against your government’s open borders and high immigration policies.” The post has been retweeted 64 times.
At the weekend a petition was created on Change.org by Nandiswa Gschwari called, “Save South Africa from Foreigners and their Crimes.” The petition asked for 500 signatures and had received 459 signatures by Monday. The petition claims: “Farmers are being murdered by Zimbabweans, Mozambique’s and Malawians. The youth is dying of drugs, human trafficking by Nigerians. Our country has become a paradise for all sorts of criminal activities because of its lawlessness. Please sign and help us save South Africa and re build this beautiful country.”
British political commentator Katie Hopkins, known for her rightwing stance, aired her views in a video that was tweeted on 5 June and viewed more than 100,000 times. The tweet that accompanies the video says: “South Africa is a glimpse into our future. Under a new development, White South Africans will be given refuge & farming opportunity in Eastern Europe. Could Eastern Europe be the place white Christians call home?” Some white South Africans asked why they would need to go to eastern Europe, when South Africa was their country too?
Resorting to humour
South Africans sought some comic relief on Twitter this weekend, with many humorous tweets becoming popular.
Posing as “specialist correspondent Bob O’Connor”, Tyson Ngobeni explained to imaginary foreign viewers, the concept, function and significance of the “room divider”, a piece of furniture found in many South African households. The tweet received almost 9,000 likes and had been retweeted over 4,000 times.
Uyajola, the reality TV show hosted by Jub Jub that exposes South Africans who cheat on their partners, received over 47,000 mentions, mostly on Sunday after the show aired. Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) tweeted, “Jub Jub made the pots do the things that cannot make the pots to be done” – the tweet received over 2,000 likes. There was largely positive sentiment towards the show, while some expressed dismay at the content. A tweet by @xplosivsa, which received only seven likes, noted: “We live in a sad society where the highlight of the week is a show about people cheating on each other.”
South Africans celebrated our unique use of the English language. @MuhammedAsmal4 tweeted: “South Africa is the only place where “don’t lie” means “tell me more.” The tweet received 1,800 retweets and almost 7,000 likes. Others responded with similar “South Africanisms”.
Another humorous tweet that received much attention was posted by @dannyeurl: “the only ex i miss is ex-tra money.” It received almost 300,000 likes internationally, and over 1,000 mentions locally. DM
The Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) is a non-profit organisation incubated at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.The CABC stimulates positive social change through engagement, dialogue and advocacy. www.cabc.org.za
Nidhi Nagabhatla is Principal Researcher, Water Security at the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health, funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada
Padma River Basin, Bangladesh Credit: Nidhi Nagabhatla
HAMILTON, Canada, Jun 8 2020 (IPS) – Do migrants willingly choose to flee their homes, or is migration the only option available?
There is no clear, one-size-fits-all explanation for a decision to migrate — a choice that will be made today by many people worldwide, and by an ever-rising number in years to come because of a lack of access to water, climate disasters, a health crisis and other problems.
Data are scarce on the multiple causes, or “push factors,” limiting our understanding of migration. What we can say, though, is that context is everything.
UN University researchers and others far beyond have been looking for direct and indirect links between migration and the water crisis, which has different faces — unsafe water in many places, chronic flooding or drought in others.
The challenge is separating those push factors from the social, economic, and political conditions that contribute to the multi-dimensional realities of vulnerable migrant populations, all of them simply striving for dignity, safety, stability, and sustainably in their lives.
A new report, ‘Water and Migration: A Global Overview,’ (https://bit.ly/3gxDgE7) from UNU’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health, offers insights into water and migration interlinkages, and suggests how to tackle existing gaps and needs.
Its information can be understood easily by stakeholders and proposes ideas for better informed migration-related policymaking, including a three-dimensional framework applicable by scholars and planners at multiple scales and in various settings.
The Report also describes some discomforting patterns and trends, among them:
• By 2050, a combination of water and climate-driven problems and conflicts will force 1 billion people to migrate, not by choice but as their only option; • Links to the climate change and water crises are becoming more evident in a dominant trend: rural-urban migration; • That said, there is a severe lack of quantitative information and understanding re. direct and indirect water and climate-related drivers of migration, limiting effective management options at local, national, regional, and global scales • Global agreements, institutions, and policies on migration are concerned mostly with response mechanisms. Needed is a balanced approach that addresses water, climate, and other environmental drivers of migration • Unregulated migration can lead to rapid, unplanned, and unsustainable settlements and urbanization, causing pressure on water demand and increasing the health risks and burdens for migrants as well as hosting states and communities • Migration should be formally recognized as an adaptation strategy for water and climate crises. While it is viewed as a ‘problem,’ in fact it forms part of a ‘solution’ • Migration reflects the systemic inequalities and social justice issues pertaining to water rights and climate change adaptation. Lack of access to water, bad water quality, and a lack of support for those impacted by extreme water-related situations constitute barriers to a sustainable future for humankind.
Case studies in the report provide concrete examples of the migration consequences in water and climate troubled situations:
• The shrinking of Lake Chad in Africa and the Aral Sea in Central Asia • The saga of Honduran refugees • The rapid urbanization of the Nile delta, and • The plight of island nations facing both rising seas and more frequent, more intense extreme weather events.
In addition, the added health burdens imposed on people and communities by water pollution and contamination create vicious cycles of poverty, inequality and forced mobility.
While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda does not include an explicit migration target, its mitigation should be considered in the context of SDGs that aim to strengthen capacities related to water, gender, climate, and institutions. These issues resonate even as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent news stories have chronicled the plight of desperate migrant workers trapped in the COVID-19 crisis in India, and of displaced people in refugee camps where social distancing is unachievable, as is access to soap and water, the most basic preventive measure against the disease.
Even at this moment, with the world fixated on the pandemic crisis, we cannot afford to put migration’s long-term causes on the back burner.
While the cost of responses may cause concerns, the cost of no decisions will certainly surpass that. There may be no clear, simple solution but having up-to-date evidence and data will surely help.
On World Environment Day ( https://bit.ly/3dnKkks) last week (June 5), we were all encouraged to consider human interdependencies with nature.
Let us also acknowledge that water and climate-related disasters, ecological degradation and other environmental burdens causes economic, health and wellbeing disparities for migrants and populations living in vulnerable settings.
ZIMBABWE is eager to re-engage with the United States of America, but Washington continues its hostile stance on Harare after US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Tibor Nagy, blatantly sided with a faction of the MDC following arrest of the party’s leaders on Friday.
This comes as 66 United Nations organisations that constitute the largest body of experts in the UN Human Rights system have ordered Washington to address human rights abuses following the brutal killing of Mr George Floyd.
African civil society organisations have also castigated the US, calling for reform of that country’s justice system.
MDC-A vice presidents Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Vongai Tome, Gladys Hlatshwayo, Louis Chimhini and Lovemore Chonoputsa were arrested for criminal nuisance after attempting to enter the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, formerly Harvest House.
Occupancy was awarded to a faction of the MDC led by Dr Thokozani Khupe, in the opposition party’s ongoing factional fights.
When they were arrested on Friday, the MDC-A members were formally charged through due process. The case is now before the courts, which granted them bail yesterday.
But, in a glaring show of skulduggery against Government, Mr Nagy parroted the unsubstantiated cliché of human rights abuses at a time the US Government is facing a firestorm of global criticism over its own deep-rooted human rights abuses that led to the brutal killing of Mr Floyd.
“The United States condemns the Zimbabwean Government’s politicised use of security forces to take over an opposition party’s headquarters and arrest its members.
“This is the latest example of the Government of Zimbabwe’s departure from democratic norms and is inconsistent with previous commitments to implement fundamental political and economic reforms,” Mr Nagy tweeted.
Earlier in the week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo had warned US chief envoy to Zimbabwe Ambassador Brian Nichols against his government’s penchant to meddle in this country’s internal affairs.
Dr Moyo, who summoned the US Ambassador over the remarks by US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, which characterised Zimbabwe as “an adversary” of the United States, said Harare seeks a normal relationship with Washington.
“I informed the Ambassador that Zimbabwe seeks a normal, co-operative relationship with the US based on mutual understanding, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs — the very opposite of the characterisation voiced by Mr O’Brien.”
Dr Moyo also told Ambassador Nichols that Zimbabwe was mindful of the harsh criticism and lack of balance that the US had become accustomed to foisting on Harare, urging the US to “take a more even-handed and less prescriptive approach . . . more open, more sincere and more practical dialogue” when dealing with Zimbabwe.
Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa yesterday told The Sunday Mail that Mr Nagy’s comments were misplaced and ill-informed.
“Firstly, Zanu-PF or Government doesn’t provide consultancy services for the MDCs. Secondly, it is not the duty of Government or the party to resurrect a failing opposition,” said Chinamasa.
“Rather, the American diplomatic goons from their Ambassador here in Zimbabwe to Tibor Nagy appear to have been appointed to babysit the MDCs.
“Now, that is their own funeral not ours, except that they have no right to prefect our internal affairs, let alone our justice system. The global chorus is that there must be justice for the murder of George Floyd and not these diversionary tactics.”
The world is speaking out against the US and in what was an unprecedented show of criticism against the US, the 66 UN human rights monitors accused Washington of systematic racism and state-sponsored violence.
“The uprising nationally is a protest against systemic racism that produces state-sponsored racial violence, and licences impunity for this violence. The uprising also reflects public frustration and protest against the many other glaring manifestations of systemic racism that have been impossible to ignore in the past months, including the racially disparate death rate and socioeconomic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disparate and discriminatory enforcement of pandemic-related restrictions. This systemic racism is gendered,” said the organisations.
The UN experts also took a swipe at US President Donald Trump over his handling of Mr Floyd’s killing, which has led to a wave of protests in America.
“The response of the President of the United States to the protests at different junctures has included threatening more state violence using language directly associated with racial segregationists from the nation’s past.
“We are deeply concerned that the nation is on the brink of a militarised response that re-enacts the injustices that have driven people to the streets to protest.”
A grouping of civil society organisations in Africa also condemned the US, saying the wave of protests that have engulfed the country as a result of Mr Floyd’s death are an opportunity to address systemic inequality, racism and injustice in the US.
“The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 ,2020 is part of a historical and recurrent pattern of unlawful arrests and killings of persons of colour by the police.
“It is symptomatic of a structural and systemic problem of hate, racism, inequality, discrimination and injustice against African Americans and people of colour. These deeply ingrained prejudices permeate the social fabric, economy and politics of the US and have also long shaped the US foreign policy towards Africa.”
The civil society organisations, which include the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (SA), Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SA), Ditshwanelo (Botswana Centre for Human Rights), Chapter One Foundation (Zambia) and Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SA) also castigated President Trump for deploying the military and labelling of protestors as terrorists.
“Regrettably, we note that no such military deployment has ever been resorted to for the purposes of protecting Afro-descendants and persons of colour from racist vigilante groups. The lack of even handedness in responding to grievances of Afro-descendants and persons of colour is symptomatic of the challenge of institutionalised racism — it sees black people as the problem.”
Some of the individuals who signed the petition include Alaigwanan Olengurumwa (Tanzania), Martin Okumu-Masiga (Uganda), Arnold Tsunga (Zimbabwe), Alice Mogwe (Botswana), Brian Kagoro (Zimbabwe), Simphiwe Sidu (SA), Ndifuna Mohamed (Uganda), Washington Katema (Zimbabwe), Mary Pais DaSilva (Eswathini), Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh (SA) and Nikiwe Kaunda (Malawi).
BIRMINGHAM-(MaraviPost)- As black lives matter protests in United State of American (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) had taken centre stage, one of Malawian human rights activist Thokozani Mapemba joined the march in UK’s Birmingham protesting against President Peter Mutharika.
During the black lives matter protest on Thursday, June 4, 2020, Mapemba carried the placard with the message; “Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), ‘We can’t breath, MW (Malawi) can’t breath”.
The placard has stormed Malawi social media on Friday, June 5, 2020 putting President Mutharika and DPP leadership into shame on international scene.
Mapemba was Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Central Region Chapter Chairperson before he left Malawi for UK.
Mapemba against Mutharika and DPPin UK
The Maravi Post is yet to learn from Mapemba on what motive behind the placard.
There has been cold blood between HRDC and Mutharika over resignation of the former Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah since nullified May 21, 2019 polls.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in UK’s Birmingham to protest about the death of George Floyd in US police custody.
Floyd, an African-American, died on May 25, 2020 when a white police officer continued to kneel on his neck after he pleaded he could not breathe.
The Birmingham protest started outside the library but later moved through the city to the police’s headquarters.
West Midlands Police said an estimated 4,000 people took part and there were no arrests.
“The protesters were loud and passionate, and made their voices clearly heard, but there were no arrests and no disorder,” a force spokesman said.
Birmingham chants for George Floyd
Image captionThe city “has a proud history of standing up to racism”, the council said
Protest organisers UK Isn’t Innocent said Britain had “a duty to stand in solidarity with the US while exposing the inner workings of racism and police brutality in the UK”.
“We are tired and we have been tired for too long,” lead organiser Hannah Ringane said.
“We have been taught that we won’t be treated the same as everyone else, that we will be viewed as aggressors.”Image captionGeorge Floyd’s death has led to protests around the worldImage captionThe demonstration had to be relocated to a larger square due to the number of protesters
Carol Smith, who was among the demonstrators, said: “My grandchildren were born here, they have to have a different world to the world I have.
“They have to realise they have a right to be here, and they have a right to equality, just like everyone else who don’t look like them.
“I can’t give you the answer to racism. I didn’t create it, people who look like me didn’t create it.”
Derrick Bassaragh added: “Young kids – black, white and Asian – demand parity, justice, love and equality.
“Not just for us, but changes for the world. These are the things that are demanded now.”Image captionProtesters in Birmingham shouted “I can’t breathe”Image captionCrowds took a knee as the protest moved through the city
Aston Villa and England defender Tyrone Mings – who was targeted with racist abuse while playing for his country against Bulgaria last year – indicated he would join demonstrators, urging his followers online to “stand for what’s right”
People were originally due to gather in Victoria Square outside the council house, but when it became clear the numbers would be too large it was moved to Centenary Square.
Although it was billed as a stand-in demonstration, protesters moved on from the square and marched towards Lloyd House, the headquarters for West Midlands Police, shouting “justice now” and calling for an end to police brutality.Image captionThe demonstration continued into the eveningImage captionDemonstrators marched on Lloyd House, the headquarters for West Midlands Police
In the past month, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has begun nine investigations into West Midlands Police connected to alleged excessive use of force on black men and two officers have been suspended.
Ch Insp Sarah Tambling, from the force, said she was “really pleased with the atmosphere” at the protest in the city.
At the scene
According to BBC, although some people have begun to leave, many more are continuing to arrive. The atmosphere has been good, with whole families coming to express their solidarity with the demonstrators.
A handful of police liaison officers have kept a respectful distance and the crowds have remained peaceful.
The younger generation in particular have made banners with clever slogans, while several older onlookers, especially from the Afro-Caribbean community, have been overcome with emotion when they see the size of the crowd.Image captionThe demonstration began in Centenary SquareImage captionThe protest moved down Colmore Row after stopping outside West Midlands Police’s headquarters
Birmingham City Council said it supported the demonstration, but encouraged protesters to maintain social distancing.
“The city of Birmingham has a long and proud history of standing up to racism and to prejudice, and that is why today we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement,” said Labour councillor and cabinet member for social inclusion John Cotton.
