Thousands join Scotland's Black Lives Matter protests

Organised by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, most of those attending the rallies were wearing masks and appeared to be observing social distancing measures.

The 46-year-old died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, triggering days of demonstrations around the world, including the US.

Scotland’s protests came despite warnings from the First Minister and police for people to find safer ways to express their support for the movement. Nicola Sturgeon said she might have attended the anti-racism demonstration, were it not for the risk of spreading Covid-19, telling the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Friday: “In normal times I may well have been planning to join a gathering of support this weekend, but coming together in mass gatherings right now is simply not safe.

“It poses a real risk to health and poses a real risk to life.”

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf told yesterday’s briefing that the large numbers taking part were worrying and he had spoken to Chief Constable Iain Livingston a short time before.

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“He tells me that good social distancing has been put in place,” said Yousaf. “But even with that in place, even with people wearing face coverings, mass outdoor gatherings like this could present risk to public health. And we do know there is a lot of evidence of the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 can have on the minority ethnic community.

“So the very people whose lives we say matter are the very lives that those people could be putting at risk.

“So yes, it does give me a great deal of concern.”

The Glasgow protest, where two arrests were made, was due to be held at George Square but was moved to Glasgow Green to allow social distancing. Shortly afterwards, demonstrators congregated at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh – among them singer Lewis Capaldi, who was also suitably masked.

One of the organisers, Cynthia Gentle, a jazz singer who lives in Edinburgh, said: “What this is for us in Scotland is trying to get people to pay attention to what we are saying.

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“Because although we’re not afraid of police shooting us down on the streets, we’re fighting institutional racism and that’s something that we’re living with in the jobs that we work, in places that we visit, and even in social circles.

“It’s having to justify your existence, why are you here, what brings you to Scotland; the questions are asked over and over again.”

In Aberdeen, a socially-distanced poster protest took place throughout the day, where BLM supporters booked slots to display their signs, artwork and notes calling for justice for the victims of police brutality.

One of the Aberdeen event organisers, Mae Diansangu, said: “This isn’t just about the death of one man, it isn’t just about one event or protest at one moment.

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“This can be the start of something that everyone can get involved in, you need to supplement it with other things like signing petitions and letters but it can bring us together and that is where change happens.

“That is something that we would like to come from this, that people will continue to come together.

“Covid isn’t going away anytime soon, so it is important for us to continue to find ways to do this whilst keeping people safe.”

A protest had also been planned in Inverness, but was cancelled by organisers worried that social distancing measures could not be guaranteed given the high number of people expected to attend. Instead, people tied messages and artwork to Ness Bridge in the city centre in support of BLM.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said he was “somewhat disappointed” that protesters decided to break lockdown protocols in order to demonstrate, but said that social distancing had largely been maintained.

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Assistant chief constable Kenny MacDonald said: “Our advice this weekend was, and remains, that people should find alternative methods to protest rather than attending mass gatherings.

“We discouraged attendance at these events across the country to minimise risks to public safety and health. I am therefore somewhat disappointed that large numbers of people chose to ignore this advice and attended these events across Scotland.

“However, I would like to thank those who did attend for adhering to the physical distancing measures where possible, and protesting in a peaceful manner. An appropriate policing response was put in place for the events and in the main they passed without incident.

“We would encourage everyone to continue to follow the Scottish Government’s regulations and guidance to aid the collective effort to protect the NHS and save lives.”

The Scottish TUC said it could not advise people to attend yesterday’s rallies because of the Covid-19 threat and held a virtual rally instead last night. It marked more than five years since the death of Sheku Bayoh, who died at the age of 32 after being restrained by police in Fife.

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Among the speakers were his sister, Kadi Johnson, human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, and Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar.

Usman Ali, chair of the STUC black workers’ committee, said: “Racism and discrimination have been long standing issues affecting black and minority ethnic workers in Scotland and across the world. We have seen a sharp increase in racism since the health, social and economic pandemic of coronavirus started.

“We need to recognise and call out the issues affecting Scotland’s black workers including the type of job roles they are likely to perform, the low rate of pay they are likely to receive, the poor treatment and conditions they are having to put up with.

“All of these issues affect black and minority ethnic workers and communities here at home and across the world and if we do not face up and call out these realities, then we cannot begin to build the fairer, equal and just Scotland and world.”

In London, thousands of people wearing face masks and carrying placards yesterday joined a BLM protest outside the US embassy. Free masks, gloves and hand gel were given out to the crowds, some of whom wore T-shirts reading: “I can’t breathe.”

One protester had written “get your knee off our necks” in luminous ink on the back of his jacket, repeating the words of Rev Al Sharpton, a black civil rights leader, who spoke at Floyd’s memorial service last week.