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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Michael Drummond & Lorraine King

Thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters march through streets of Brighton

Thousands of people marched through the streets of Brighton in a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest.

Demonstrators wore black and gathered by the city's famous Palace Pier at midday on Saturday before moving off through the city.

Holding up signs in protest against systemic racism, many wore face masks and carried placards with slogans including "Decolonise everything" and "Defund the police".

Demonstrators set off along the seafront shouting "Black lives matter every day" and "UK is not innocent".

As protesters passed the Brighton war memorial they were serenaded by a string quartet.

Around 5,000 people took part in the peaceful protest (PA)

The musical tribute was in stark contrast to the protest last month which saw a small group occupy the stone monument amid a heavy police presence.

Gathering in their thousands at The Level after making their way north from the seafront, the protesters shouted out in unison: "It is our duty to do this every day.

"It is our duty to fight for racial justice.

Demonstrators carried placards as they marched through the streets (Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red)
The protesters made their way along the seafront (PA)

"It is our duty to win. We are stronger together.

"We are here with love, peace and solidarity.

"We have nothing to lose - too many have already lost too much."

Protesters shouted "Black lives matter every day" and "UK is not innocent" (Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red)
The crowd also chanted "It is our duty to fight for racial justice" (PA)

Sussex Police said up to 5,000 people took part in the peaceful protest.

Chief Inspector Jon Carter said: "We would like to say thank you to the participants and also to those who weren't involved in the protest, but who may have been held up for a short time while the event made its way through the city, for their patience and support."

One man, who is believed to have not been a protestor, was arrested on suspicion of using threatening and abusive words which were allegedly directed towards the event.

The march began at the city's famous Palace Pier at midday (PA)
The latest protest comes days after outcry over a video showing a man being restrained by police (PA)

The latest protest comes days after outcry over a video showing a man shouting "I can't breathe" while being restrained on the ground by three police officers in the city.

Sussex Police said the man was arrested and became aggressive towards officers before being placed on the ground.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

There have been calls for Brighton to become an officially anti-racist city (Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red)
The death of George Floyd in the US sparked global Black Lives Matter protests (Internet Unknown)

One protester speaking to the crowds on a megaphone addressed the video.

She shouted: "Sussex Police has recently been filmed using excessive force on a young black man."

Last month, more than 10,000 protesters marched through the East Sussex city in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement worldwide.

There have been calls for the popular seafront resort to become an officially anti-racist city.

Carmen Appich, chair of the council's tourism, equality, communities and culture committee, said: "In the wake of the sickening killing of George Floyd (in the US) the global calls for change and the impact of Covid-19 on black and ethnic minority people, we made a public pledge to become an anti-racist council.

"We acknowledge that it is not enough to be non-racist and we must actively use our privilege, position as community leaders and platforms to challenge structural racism and injustice within the council and in the city."

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