BY EMILY BROWN
A few weeks have now passed since the people of Plymouth took part in the Black Lives Matter Solidarity Protest, where 1000 people were estimated to have gathered. The organisers of the two-hour demonstration iterated on their Facebook page that it would be “a peaceful protest for the racist killings of Black people and those affected by police brutality,” which is not just a reality for those living in America, but also for Black people living in the UK. Black people make up 3% of our population yet 8% of all those who die in police custody are Black. Even in the middle of a pandemic, racism and police brutality could no longer be brushed aside in the UK, and white people could no longer choose to ignore racism which continues to occur.
Despite concerns regarding breaking social distancing rules and encouraging the spread of COVID-19, almost every protester brought their own mask or received one on the day. Ironically, the only people who were notably not wearing PPE, were the liaison officers present. Protests are always at risk of becoming tinged with elements of violence, but this should not be used to discredit the cause of the Black Lives Matter protests and the need for change and reform. Moreover, protests can also be exacerbated by police presence, but the presence of liaison officers did not incite unrest among protesters in Plymouth. Our city’s protest can only be described as peaceful. People of all ages participated in the protest, including children and a large number of young people, which gives hope for a safer and fairer future for the Black community.
Leading up to the protest, it was emphasised online by Nathan Gilchrist, the creator of the Facebook event, that it would be a space for Black voices to be heard, rather than “led by the voices of white people.” Gilchrist and The Plymouth BAME Network (TPBN) declined our request for comment.
During the protest, Black people were given the opportunity to speak using a megaphone. Although the equipment did not completely amplify their voices, it was still powerful and moving to hear their poetry, speeches, and experiences of racism in Devon. This served as a reminder that racism does exist in the UK, despite many claiming this to be untrue.
As the protest drew to a close, demonstrators knelt in silence for eight minutes, a chilling reflection of the eight minutes and 46 seconds that Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck, resulting in his death. This silence allowed protesters to reflect and show respect for those who have been affected by police brutality. Through the silence, a passer-by was heard shouting, “this isn’t fucking America.” In addition to the negative backlash from certain members of the community regarding the protest, this shows how as a city we have not been doing enough to challenge the racism that festers in our local communities. That said, the overall peaceful tone of the entire protest emphasises how, despite being a city whose history of racism and colonial conquest is still rife in street names, statues and ideologies, people in Plymouth want to support, protect, and champion the members of our community of Black and ethnic minority backgrounds.
The protest was a crucial means of fighting racism and led to the creation of TPBN, but this is not the conclusion of the fight against racism. It is the initial steps into making Plymouth an anti-racist community. As a city, we still have much to learn and much to improve upon. Now that the protest has passed, there are many other ways we can continue to challenge racism, such as signing petitions, reading literature by Black writers, and supporting Black-owned businesses.
To receive updates from TPBN, follow their on Instagram by searching @theplymouthbamenetwork or by clicking the link below: