Second Black Lives Matter demonstration to be held in Newport in response to death of Mercy Baguma

A second Black Lives Matter demonstration is to be held in a Welsh city in response to the death of a Ugandan mother.

Black Lives Matter Gwent will be holding a peaceful demonstration outside the Westgate Hotel in Newport, on Sunday, September 5.

Organiser Andrew Ogun said the action will be taken in response to the widely reported story of Mercy Baguma, a Ugandan refugee who was found dead beside her malnourished one-year-old child in a Glasgow flat on August 22.

Refugee charity Positive Action in Housing said Ms Baguma had claimed asylum and lived in "extreme poverty".

Andrew said demonstrators will also be responding to the high-profile police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, who was reportedly shot several times in the back as he entered a car where his three children were seated in the US state of Wisconsin.

Mr Blake survived the shooting but is reportedly paralysed in hospital.

Attendees at a BLM march outside the Civic Centre in Newport in June (Ieuan Berry - Berry photography)

It comes three months after hundreds of people took to the streets of Newport in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in June.

"The outrage that happened as a result of George Floyd's death is probably because it resulted in a death unfortunately," Andrew Ogun said.

"I still think why is the response not the same?

"It's the exact same issue problem of police brutality, it's just one died unfortunately and one survived."

Andrew Ogun, organiser of the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Newport (Andrew Ogun)

Andrew said he was particularly touched by news of Mercy Baguma's death.

"The Mercy Baguma story is genuinely heartbreaking," he said.

"She was an asylum seeker who was just forgotten about and left to die basically. It's a miracle her child is still alive.

"I came to this country as a refugee and I know that the system is deeply flawed. I know that the system is inhumane."

Andrew said the demonstration would be static outside the Westgate Hotel and no attendees will be marching.

He said demonstrators will listen to guest speakers while social distancing rules will be enforced throughout. A support tent providing hand sanitiser and masks to attendees will also be present.

The event is planned to begin at 1pm lasting two hours.