From Friday to Sunday Black Lives Matter marches caused road blocks across London over the weekend. They were protests which followed from the deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisina and Philando Castile in Minnesota last week, two black Americans shot and killed by police officers. The incidents have revived anger and frustration about racial discrimination.
The deaths of both men were captured on social media, Sterling’s death was recorded on a mobile phone and Castile’s was broadcast on Facebook Live by his girlfriend. At a subsequent peaceful protest in Texas five police officers were shot and killed by a lone gunman.
The Black Lives Matter movement in London expressed solidarity with those in the US. Placards bore slogans such as ‘Humans Not #Hashtags’ and ‘Stop Killing Us’.
Co-organiser of the protests, Ayishat Akanbi, wrote on Instagram: ‘I'm desperate to have honest conversations with people, I'm desperate for ideas and open minded individuals to attend. I'm desperate for this not to end as soon as Kylie Jenner drops a controversial selfie. I really want an honest space for us to all address our role in the destruction of the entire planet and our hidden presumptions about people based on their race/identity .’
Beyonce, who is currently in the UK with her Formation tour, issued a statement on her websitewhich read ‘We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities. It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they “Stop killing us”. We don't need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives.’
This image of an unarmed young woman standing calmly in front of two police officers as they appear to rush towards her outside police headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was killed has also been shared by many.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.