At least 15,000 Black Lives Matter protestors including Star Wars actor John Boyega pack into London's Hyde Park - as British police chiefs say they are 'appalled and horrified' by George Floyd's death
- Black Lives Matter protest underway at Hyde Park in London is second major demonstration in UK so far
- Stand Up To Racism also wants Britons to 'take the knee' on doorsteps at 6pm tonight in separate protest
- UK police chief constables have called for 'justice and accountability' and condemn violent scenes in US
- George Floyd died after white police officer put knee on his neck in Minneapolis for nine minutes last week
- TV reporter screams as she is attacked by screwdriver-wielding man yelling 'Allahu Akbar' while at protest
At least 15,000 Black Lives Matter protesters including singer Liam Payne and actor John Boyega gathered in London today as a show of force against the death of George Floyd in the US.
Huge crowds gathered in Hyde Park this afternoon despite ongoing social distancing rules as many campaigners wore face coverings and held signs with messages such as 'Please, I can't breathe', 'BLM' and 'Colour ≠ Crime'.
The rally comes as global demonstrations gather pace following the death of 46-year-old black man Mr Floyd who died after white police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25.
Today, Star Wars actor Boyega told the crowd: 'Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain't waiting.'
Police were generally keeping in the background of the protest while their helicopters circled above. Banners included 'Enough is Enough', 'Remember Smiley Culture', 'Remember Cherry Groce', and 'UK is not innocent'.
After leaving Hyde Park, the protesters clambered onto traffic lights as they marched down Park Lane towards Victoria and gathered outside Parliament. One supporter played Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds on a loudspeaker.
One protester wore a Colin Kaepernick shirt after the black American footballer who started the knee protest in the US. Thousands of demonstrators at times went down on one knee chanting 'George Floyd, George Floyd.'
It comes after UK chief constables joined forces to say they were 'appalled and horrified' by the death and called for 'justice and accountability', while warning those attending protests to do so while maintaining a safe distance.
Separately, anti-racism campaign group Stand Up to Racism is urging Britons to 'take the knee' on their doorsteps at 6pm tonight for a protest against discrimination which is also backing the Black Lives Matter movement.







Protesters wearing face masks gather for the demonstration at Hyde Park this afternoon
Boyega, 28, told fellow demonstrators gathered for a Black Lives Matter protest he was 'speaking to you from my heart'. The British actor referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US, as well as the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in London in 1993.
He said: 'We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence.'
'Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process. We don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones.
'I need you to understand how painful this s*** is. I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn't the case any more, that was never the case any more.'
He urged protesters to remain peaceful as they demonstrated over the death of Mr Floyd.
'It is very, very important that we keep control of this moment. That we make this as peaceful and as organised as possible,' he said.
'Because they want us to mess up, they want us to be disorganised, but not today.
'This message is specifically for black men, black men we need to take care of our black women.
'They are our hearts, they are our future, we cannot demonise our own, we are the pillars of the family.
'Imagine this: a nation that is set up with individual families that are thriving, that are healthy, that communicate, that raise their children in love, have a better rate of becoming better human beings, and that's what we need to create.
'Black men, it starts with you. It's done man, we can't be trash no more. We have to be better.
'You lot came today, you left your kids, and when you see your kids they're aimlessly playing, they don't understand what's going on. Today's the day that we remind them that we are dedicated and this is a lifelong dedication.
'Some of you are artists, some of you are bankers, some of you are lawyers, some of you own shop stores.
'You are important, your individual power, your individual right is very, very important, we can all join together to make this a better world.'
Protesters were initially asked to sit two metres apart unless they were in the same household and were told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around the park.
However, as numbers grew, many of the protesters were seen standing at close distance as organisers still tried to maintain appropriate spacing.




Protesters chanted 'black lives matter' and 'we will not be silent' as they waited for the demonstration to begin.
Most of the protesters wore masks or gloves.
Filippa, a 20-year-old student, said: 'I know that I'm healthy. So this felt more important than to stay inside when I have the opportunity.'
It comes after a joint statement from UK chief constables said today: 'We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
'Justice and accountability should follow. We are also appalled to see the violence and damage that has happened in so many US cities since then.
'Our hearts go out to all those affected by these terrible events and hope that peace and order will soon be restored.'
It added that officers in Britain have a 'long established tradition of policing by consent, working in communities to prevent crime and solve problems'.
The statement added that forces will 'tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it' but acknowledged that 'sometimes we fall short'.
It added that police would 'uphold and facilitate' the right to lawful protest, but warned demonstrators that the coronavirus lockdown is still in place.
They said: 'Coronavirus remains a deadly disease and there are still restrictions in place to prevent its spread, which include not gathering outside in groups of more than six people.
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