Waandamanaji wa nchini Uingereza wanaopinga ubaguzi wa rangi baada ya kutokea kifo cha George Floyd, wameivunja sanamu ya aliyekuwa mfanyabiashara ya watumwa iliyoko mjini Bristol
Sanamu iliyotupwa majini ni ya Edward Colston ilikuwepo tangu mwaka 1895. Watu walipitisha chagizo la kuiondoa sanamu hiyo kwa kuwa ilikuwa inabeba historia mbaya, hivyo katika maandamano hayo wanaandamanaji waliitupa sanamu hiyo majini
Maandamano ya kupinga ubaguzi wa rangi yameendelea kwenye maeneo mbalimbali ikiwemo London, Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, Sydney na Hongkong waandamanaji wakiwa na ujumbe ya kuwa ‘Black lives matter’
Katika maeneo mengi waandamanaji wameonekana kutojali uwepo wa #CoronaVirus kwa kuwa hawaachiani ile mita moja inayoshauriwa kati ya mtu na mtu. Pia ni wachache kati yao ambao huvaa barakoa
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In London, thousands congregated outside the US Embassy on Sunday despite British ministers saying that public protests ran the risk of increasing the spread of Covid-19.
Chants of "No Justice, No Peace" and "Black Lives Matter" bounced off the building in the Vauxhall region of the city, with a jubilant atmosphere for much of the day.
"Together, we will let our voices be heard. Enough is Enough. Black people cannot keep suffering," one protester addressed the crowd.
At times, the activists chanted "The UK is not innocent." Others had messages for the US President, with one sign reading: "Black lives trump your ego, Mr. President."
The previous day, activists had descended onto Parliament Square in the center of the city. Protests were peaceful for several hours, but turned heated in the evening when police and crowds faced off outside Downing Street.
In one incident, video posted online showed a police horse suddenly bolting, causing its officer to crash into a street light and fall to the ground. The loose horse then caused panic as it ran through groups of protesters, before making its way back to police stables.
"I stand with you. George Floyd's brutal killing must lead to immediate and lasting change everywhere," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a Sunday message to protesters, while condemning the minority who turned violent and reminding activists to try to limit physical interactions.
A number of Boris Johnson's government ministers had previously urged protesters to avoid gathering at all for public health reasons, with Home Secretary Priti Patel saying on Saturday: "I would say to those that want to protest, please don't."
Similar protests took place in Edinburgh, Scotland -- and a dramatic scene unfolded in Bristol, southwest England, where activists tore down a statue of 17th century slave owner Edward Colston.
The monument had stood in the city center since 1895 but had become increasingly controversial, with petitions created to demand its removal. On Sunday it was ripped down with ropes to loud cheers from a crowd of demonstrators.
Source: CNN