In an act of solidarity against racism and systemic prejudice, a Black Lives Matter banner has been secured to the front of Nottingham Council House.
The banner went up on Monday morning (June 15) as the young people who tried to clean up graffiti from the building on June 7 were invited inside so the Lord Mayor could offer an official 'thank you'.
The move follows weeks of protest across the globe started in the wake of George Floyd's horrific death at the hands of police in America.
Mr Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Nottingham held its own peaceful protest on June 7 at the Forest Recreation Ground.
City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, praised the well-organised event and hoped the banner would publicly reinforce the authority's support and show how it "will not tolerate any form of racism, hate or prejudice and commit never to remain silent on these issues".
He said: “Nottingham is a city where people from different backgrounds overwhelmingly get along and we want to reflect that sentiment at this particular moment. We want to express our solidarity with Nottingham communities who are rightly upset and want change to come, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in America.
“We recognise and share this strength of feeling and this banner shows clearly that we stand with them and against systemic prejudice that unforgivably still places BAME people at a disadvantage in so many aspects of their lives.
"Nottingham is a diverse and cohesive city, but we also know that racism and prejudice are not just issues in America, they are issues in our country and our city. We will not tolerate any form of racism, hate or prejudice and commit never to remain silent on these issues.
“The young people who tried to clean up graffiti after the earlier peaceful, well-organised Black Lives Matter protest are more representative of the young people in our city and give us all hope for the future.
"We invited them to the council house so the Lord Mayor could thank them and show them that in putting up the banner we support them, but that this is only part of our response and our ongoing efforts to make our city more equal.”
