thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--How The Lockdown Sex Ban Could 'Break The Chain' Of HIV Transmission

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The coronavirus lockdown may have one surprising positive impact – to end the transmission of HIV in Britain, according to a sexual health charity.
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Experts say the so-called “lockdown sex ban” has opened up a “one-off opportunity” to “break the chain” on HIV infections, as it can take around a month after possible exposure to the virus to show up on a test.
On Thursday a new study revealed the vast majority (84%) of people in the UK are abstaining from sex outside of their immediate household because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The survey of over 800 UK adults, conducted by HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust and sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street, found that eight in 10 people plan to forgo meeting up for sex while the ban is in place.
On Monday the government introduced new lockdown rules that explicitly prohibit two people from separate households gathering in a private place.
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As having sex in public is already prohibited, the new regulations effectively mean sex with someone outside your household is illegal and both parties could be prosecuted under the law.
Nick Perry, 47, was “not exactly prolific” before the pandemic – “maybe once or twice a month” – but since lockdown he has not met anyone for sex at all.
Although he has felt “a bit frisky” from time to time, he said it was “all about the greater good”.
IT manager Nick Perry: “It’s not just about you and your personal health; it’s about how your personal health affects other people.” HuffPost UK
“Here we are in a viral pandemic,” he told HuffPost UK. “It’s not just about you and your personal health – it’s about how your personal health affects other people.”
Instead of meeting up, Perry said lots of people on the dating app Grindr were exchanging pictures or engaging in dirty talk. “There are plenty of ways to get off.”
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Sexual health experts say this “drastic” temporary change in sexual behaviour could provide an opportunity to significantly reduce HIV transmission.
Because it can take up to eight weeks from potential HIV exposure for tests to detect the virus, anyone who hasn’t had sex since before lockdown will get an accurate result.
Perry has been tested for HIV a couple of times, most recently a few weeks ago, for which he tested negative. He said the “fear of the unknown” was preventing some from taking the test.
“The biggest fear for most people is getting the result,” he said. “The more you know about [HIV], the less there is to fear.
“If you have a positive diagnosis, you can live normally just by taking a couple of pills for the rest of your life – which is going to be just as long as if you didn’t have it.
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“It’s really simple and not something to be afraid of.”
Liz Porter, clinical director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said now was a “fantastic opportunity” for everyone who doesn’t already know their HIV status to take a test.
Many people have been exchanging pictures or engaging in dirty talk instead of meeting up in order to slow the spread of coronavirus. Deagreez via Getty Images
“The Covid lockdown situation could create a strange consequence if we can get people tested and normalise testing,” she told HuffPost UK.
“One global pandemic could have a positive impact on another.”
Dr Alan McOwan, lead clinician at 56 Dean Street, said: “With fewer people hooking up for sex, it’s absolutely time to test as we have a great opportunity to pick up even recently acquired HIV infections.
“We didn’t think there would ever be an extended period of abstinence for so many people, but now it’s happened we’re determined to make the most of it.”
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Free HIV testing kits are available via post from most councils in England, with national coverage for most affected groups in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In addition, Terrence Higgins Trust is offering free HIV self tests for the next two weeks, which will provide a result within 15 minutes.
Anyone receiving a reactive result from the test could then access medical treatment and support to prevent the virus from being passed on.
The charity urged members of groups most impacted by the virus in the UK – gay and bisexual men, men and women from Black African communities and trans people – to get tested.
Ian Green, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to break the chain on HIV infection and help move us further forward in achieving our goal of ending HIV transmissions in the UK within the next decade. National HIV Testing Week is every November, but we need to act now because this chance won’t wait and won’t come around again.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--As Johnson Sidelines The Scientists, Can He Still Carry The Public?

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The English word quarantine stems from the Italian quaranta giorni, the 40 day period that ships were required to sit in port in Venice in a bid to stem the plague infecting the city in the Middle Ages. So when Boris Johnson tried to defend his new 14-day quarantine on all international arrivals to the UK, there was no small irony in him being quizzed on the policy by an Italian journalist.
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“What I would say to our Italian friends,” he told the man from RAI at the No.10 press conference, “is...Tutti benevenuti! Come back to London or to the UK. But you’ve got to quarantine. I know it’s an imposition.” In other words: you’re all welcome but you’re not welcome really. Even for a PM famous for wanting to have his panettone and eat it, it was quite a stretch.
Of course, many would have expected a Home Secretary to lead the Downing Street briefing on such a key new Home Office policy. But Priti Patel is so little trusted that she is subject to a media curfew that has seen her appear at the No.10 podium just three times in three months.
Patel couldn’t avoid appearing in the Commons to deliver a statement on her proposal. But there was no hiding place from the backbench Tory criticism of a plan that many of them felt was a needless act of economic self harm, as well as a blow to the post-Brexit message that the UK was ‘open for business’.
The withering criticism from big beasts like Theresa May and Liam Fox were one thing. But what struck me most was the number of new MPs who went public with their unease. Ben Spencer, Jonathan Gullis, Christian Wakeford all proved that perhaps the most damaging thing about the Dominic Cummings affair was the way it has given the 2019 intake a taste for dissent and possible rebellion. No wonder PPS jobs are being handed out to Red Wall loyalists like sweeties.
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Patel lived down to expectations on some of the basic facts too. When she wrongly claimed that British nationals would have been stopped from being repatriated if her quarantine had been imposed at the start of the pandemic, one minister told me he held his head in his hands.
Most damaging of all was that Patel effectively confirmed that the plans had not been recommended by the government’s Sage group of scientific advisors. Several times she said “the government have been guided by the science from the outset”, but it became clear she was talking about “representatives of Sage in departments across government”. The Home Office’s chief scientific advisor, Prof John Aston, was cited by No.10 when challenged on the same issue.
The slam-dunk proof came however during the No.10 press conference when chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance made plain the reality. The Sage advice was that quarantines were “most effective when the number of cases is very low, and they’re most effective when they’re applied to countries from higher rates,” he said. Given that 13 out of the UK’s 15 most popular foreign tourist destinations have an R rate lower than our own, the lack of evidence is dramatic.
Vallance added that the judgement of when to impose such crackdowns was “something for politicians to make”. It’s true that ministers can only be “guided by the science” and not directed by it (some think Vallance was as slow as the PM on lockdown). But Patel’s policy seems guided and directed by her and No.10’s belief that the public want a show of strength on UK borders.
Prime minister Boris Johnson and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty. PA
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The gulf - you could call it even call it distancing - between the scientists and ministers was however repeatedly stark at the latest briefing. Vallance said the “relatively large numbers” were “still not coming down fast”. On test and trace, Chris Whitty said it will be “quite some time” before the capacity is good enough. All the easings so far were “slight”, he added.
Crucially, on the 2m social distancing rule, Whitty said it was “going to carry on really for as long as this epidemic continues”. And yet within minutes the PM appeared to contradict him, ending the press conference with his hope that “eventually I would like to do things such as reducing the 2m rule”.
The idea of MPs voting remotely seems another area where scientific advice comes second to Johnson’s wish to send a message to the populace. As with quarantine (which polls show has voter backing), he is calculating that he’s on the right side of public opinion, not scientific consensus. Three times in PMQs he used the phrase “the people of this country”, adding “ordinary people are getting used to queuing for long periods to do their shopping” and MPs should put up with some waiting too.
That attempt to resurrect the ‘people versus parliament’ narrative of the Brexit wars felt like cover for his own retreat on proxy voting (itself triggered by Tory backbench irritation). But it was also a reminder that Johnson uses PMQs to unveil policies, largely because it is one of the few forums where he is required to surface in public. The new target for a 24 hour turnaround for Covid tests by the end of June was a further example. No.10 also clearly has focus groups and polling suggesting the voters don’t like Keir Starmer sniping from the sidelines.
And yet for all that, Starmer will claim he has pushed the government to change course on everything from testing and PPE to economic support and MPs’ votes. And with new polls showing a new drop in public support for the way Johnson has handled the crisis, he can claim he is capturing the nation’s shifting mood.
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The self-isolation tonight of business minister Alok Sharma after sweating at the despatch box, just 24 hours after farcical scenes of MPs’ conga queues on MPs first day back at parliament, underlined the impression of chaos. I’m also told that 100 Tory MPs packed into the 1922 committee meeting today, one chair apart with cursory regard for social distancing.
And as one former Labour minister told me this week: “The public don’t expect the Tories to care. They expect the Tories to be able to run things. And we’ve only won power when we’ve shown they are crap at running things.” Douglas-Home, Heath, Major all paved the way for Labour governments. That’s why for Starmer (with Labour still well behind in the polls), competence is all. And why, even this far out from a general election, Boris Johnson is really desperate to reconnect with ‘the people’.
Quote Of The Day
“I am afraid tragically there will be many, many job losses. That is just inevitable.”
Boris Johnson warns of the looming recession
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
Another 359 people have died after contracting coronavirus, bringing the UK total to 39,728. The grim 40,000 milestone may well be reached tomorrow.
Commons staff undertook a ‘deep clean’ of the despatch box during a long suspension. The move came after business secretary Alok Sharma was seen sweating during his opening of the second reading debate on the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill. He later went into self-isolation.
Boris Johnson urged the public not to move gatherings indoors if it rains in coming days, warning that could “undermine and reverse all the progress that we’ve made together”.
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Prompted by Keir Starmer, the PM said George Floyd’s death was ‘appalling and inexcusable”. “My message to president Trump is...racism and racist violence has no place in our society”. Johnson said ‘black lives matter’, before adding that protests should be carried out in a “lawful and reasonable way”, with social distancing.
The Metropolitan Police revealed that black people were twice as likely as white people to be fined for coronavirus lockdown breaches. Black people, who make up 12% of London’s population, received 26% of the fines. Asian people, who make up 18% of London’s population, received 23% of the fines.
Durham County Council is investigating complaints that the “cottage” Dominic Cummings used during his lockdown trip did not have the correct planning permission and may be liable to council tax.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Cabinet Minister Alok Sharma Tested For Covid-19 After Appearing Unwell In The Commons

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Business secretary Alok Sharma has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate after beginning to feel unwell in the House of Commons chamber, his spokesperson said.
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The development came a day after MPs approved the government’s plan to end virtual voting in the Commons.
During a debate, Sharma was seen wiping his face with a handkerchief several times and his opposite number in Labour’s shadow cabinet, Ed Miliband, passed him a glass of water at one point.
“Secretary of state Alok Sharma began feeling unwell when in the chamber delivering the second reading of the corporate governance and Insolvency Bill,” the spokesperson said.
“In line with guidance he has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate.”
Business Secretary Alok Sharma wiped his face several times with a handkerchief and appeared to struggle as he spoke about the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill in the Commons pic.twitter.com/ysQ5RPF9lR — George Ryan 🏳🌈 (@GeorgeMRyan) June 3, 2020
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HuffPost UK understands there was a long suspension of the Commons while there was a “deep clean” of the despatch box and nearby area after Sharma’s appearance.
The Commons was due to be suspended for 5 minutes, which is the normal turnaround to allow MPs in and out at distance, but it ended up being suspended for 15 minutes.
It comes following fierce criticism that MPs with disabilities and caring responsibilities have been shut out by the ending of virtual proceedings.
Chaotic scenes emerged in the House of Commons on Tuesday as MPs joined an Alton Towers-style queue to decide to end online voting during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Social distancing measures required them to join a queue, keep two metres apart, walk through the Commons chamber and announce their vote.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Madeleine McCann: German Prisoner Identified As New Suspect In 2007 Disappearance

Madeleine McCann PA Media
A German prisoner has been identified as a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, detectives have revealed.
The Metropolitan Police have not named the man, 43, who is described as white with short, blond hair, possibly fair, and about 6ft tall with a slim build.
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The German national is known to have been in and around Praia da Luz on the Algarve coast at the time Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her twin siblings Sean and Amelie.
A half-hour phone call was made to his Portuguese mobile phone around an hour before Madeleine is believed to have gone missing.
The suspect, who is in prison in Germany for an unrelated matter, has been linked to an early 1980s VW T3 Westfalia camper van – with a white upper body and yellow skirting, registered in Portugal – which was pictured in the Algarve in 2007.
VW T3 Westfalia campervan linked to the suspect. PA Media
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Scotland Yard said he was driving the vehicle in the Praia da Luz area in the days before Madeleine’s disappearance and is believed to have been living in it for days or weeks before and after May 3.
He has also been linked to a 1993 Jaguar XJR6 with a German number plate seen in Praia da Luz and surrounding areas in 2006 and 2007.
The day after Madeleine went missing, the suspect got the car re-registered in Germany under someone else’s name, although it is believed the vehicle was still in Portugal.
Both vehicles have been seized by German police.
A 1993 Jaguar XJR6 was also linked to the suspect. PA Media
Scotland Yard is launching a joint appeal with the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA) and the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria (PJ), including a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible of Madeleine’s disappearance.
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The Met’s investigation has identified more than 600 people as being potentially significant and were tipped off about the German national, already known to detectives, following a 2017 appeal 10 years after she went missing.
She vanished shortly before her fourth birthday and would have turned 17 last month.
German police are treating her disappearance as a murder investigation but the Met’s Operation Grange, launched in 2013, has always considered the case a missing person inquiry.
A statement from Madeleine’s parents, read by Det Chief Insp Mark Cranwell said: “We welcome the appeal today regarding the disappearance of our daughter Madeleine.
“We would like to thank the police forces involved for their continued efforts in the search for Madeleine.
“All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
“We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive, but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace.
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“We will be making no further comment in relation to the appeal today.
“We would like to thank the general public for their ongoing support and encourage anyone who has information directly related to the appeal to contact police.”
Camper van sought in the investigation. PA Media
Cranwell told reporters on Wednesday he was taking the “really unusual” step of releasing two mobile phone numbers as part of the appeal.
The first, (+351) 912 730 680, is believed to have been used by the suspect and received a call from another Portuguese mobile, (+351) 916 510 683, while in the Praia da Luz area, starting at 7.32pm and ending at 8.02pm on the night of May 3, 2007.
Madeleine is believed to have disappeared between 9.10pm and 10pm that evening.
The caller, who is not thought to have been in the Praia da Luz area, is not being treated as a suspect, but is said to be a “key witness” in the case.
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“Any information in relation to these mobile numbers during the spring and summer of 2007 could be critical to this investigation,” said Cranwell.
“Some people will know the man we are describing today, the suspect in our investigation. I’m appealing to you directly.
“You may know, you may be aware of some of the things he has done. He may have confided in you about the disappearance of Madeleine.
“More than 13 years have passed and your loyalties may have changed.
“This individual is in prison and we are conscious that some people may have been concerned about contacting police in the past. Now is the time to come forward.
“I’m appealing to you to contact us, or the German authorities or the Portuguese authorities.
“I should be very, very clear on this – while this male is a suspect, we retain an open mind as to his involvement.”
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The suspect is known to have been linked to the Praia da Luz area between 1995 and 2007, with some short spells in Germany, and is described as having a “transient lifestyle”, living in his camper van for days at a time.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the camper van in or around Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine went missing, the days before or weeks after.
Detectives also want to speak with anyone who saw the van together with the Jaguar, or individually, during the spring and summer of 2007.
Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said the investigation into the suspect had seen Met detectives sent to Portugal and Germany.
He added: “This is a significant development, which is why we’ve made the decision to take this significant step of making a public appeal on some information that we would not normally talk about in our major investigations.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--All Four Former Police Officers Involved In The Killing Of George Floyd To Be Charged

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Three more former Minnesota police officers will be charged in the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died after an officer kneeled on his neck for nine minutes during an arrest.
The office of Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison plans to charge Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng on Wednesday with aiding and abetting Floyd’s murder, according to reporting by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that HuffPost confirmed with a law enforcement source.
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The Hennepin County prosecutor had already arrested Derek Chauvin, the former police officer seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck, last week, charging him with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Ellison’s office is also planning to announce that it would be upgrading the third-degree murder charge to second-degree murder.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz tapped Ellison, a former progressive congressman and civil rights attorney, on Sunday to take over the case from Hennepin County prosecutor Mike Freeman. Walz said he made the decision to put Ellison in charge after consulting with Floyd’s family.
Floyd was killed on May 25 after the officers arrested him for allegedly attempting to make a purchase at a store with a fraudulent $20 bill. As seen in horrifying video of Floyd’s arrest, Chauvin used his knee to hold Floyd down by the neck even as Floyd pleaded: “Please, man, I can’t breathe.”
Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd, who was apparently in handcuffs, even after he stopped speaking and moving. He remained there as onlookers shouted at other officers to attend to Floyd.
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In another video, three other officers can be seen crowding around Floyd, who is on the floor, during the arrest.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital.
Floyd’s death, like other police killings of Black men, has sparked days of protests and public outcry in Minneapolis and across the US.
Chauvin, Thao, Lane and Keung were fired, but protesters and community leaders demanded that the officers be arrested and charged with murder.
The Minneapolis Police Department initially claimed Floyd was physically resisting arrest. However, surveillance footage obtained by CNN which captured a portion of the arrest does not support that claim.
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During an interview with CNN last week, Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd called for the protests to remain peaceful but he also said demonstrators were “torn and hurt because they’re tired of seeing Black men die. Constantly, over and over again.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Boris Johnson Dragged Into Firing Line Over Tory Donor's Controversial £1bn Housing Deal

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Boris Johnson is facing questions over what he knew about a Tory donor’s controversial £1bn east London development that his housing secretary “unlawfully” signed off – after it emerged the PM waved through a version of the same scheme four years ago when he was mayor of London.
Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick has received fierce criticism after approving the 1,500-home development at the former Westferry Printworks site on London’s Isle of Dogs in January, despite the scheme being rejected by the local council and then the independent Planning Inspectorate.
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The secretary of state’s intervention came just a day before Tower Hamlets Council approved a new rate for its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – a move that would have increased the property owner’s financial liability to the authority by between £30m and £50m.
The building used to be the Daily Express printworks on the Millwall waterfront and sits on land owned by Northern & Shell, a company in turn owned by media mogul Richard Desmond, a former Tory party donor.
HuffPost UK reported this week that police are “assessing” an allegation about Jenrick’s decision.
Last month, Jenrick conceded his decision was “unlawful by reason of apparent bias” and confirmed his approval was deliberately issued before the new CIL policy could be adopted. The move meant Jenrick was able to avoid publishing correspondence relating to the application in open court as part of a judicial review of his decision triggered by Tower Hamlets Council. His planning permission has been quashed and is to be decided by a different minister.
But now the Labour Party has raised questions over how much the prime minister knew about Jenrick’s decision – and highlighted how Johnson approved a smaller, subsequently withdrawn version of the same scheme in 2016 when he was mayor of London.
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The party has tabled a series of written parliamentary questions on whether meetings were held between the PM and his advisers and Jenrick’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
And Johnson’s awareness of the scheme was raised in parliament on Wednesday. At prime minister’s questions, Labour MP Judith Cummins asked: “The communities secretary has admitted unlawfully overruling his own planning inspector to allow the Westferry development to go ahead, potentially saving the developer, Richard Desmond, who is a Conservative party donor, £40m in tax.
“The secretary of state did so just weeks after sitting next to the developer at a Tory fundraising dinner.
“Given that this was the same scheme that the prime minister tried to push through when he was mayor of London and which reappeared after he entered Downing Street, will he now tell the House what conversations he has had with the secretary of state about the scheme?
“Will he publish all relevant correspondence between No.10 and the department?”
Johnson replied: “I am happy to tell her that I have had no conversations on that matter whatever, nor any exchanges of any kind.”
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Steve Reed, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, said: “Robert Jenrick took the extraordinary step of admitting his approval of this planning decision was unlawful – a decision that has now prompted a Metropolitan Police review.
“There are concerns he did this to avoid publishing the real reasons for his decision in open court. Boris Johnson tried to help the same developer with the same scheme when he was mayor of London so the public need to know there was no undue influence from No.10 to do favours for a wealthy Tory donor.
“Robert Jenrick must come to the House of Commons, explain the reasons for his unlawful decision and agree to publish all correspondence. We can’t allow a situation in the planning process where there’s one rule for the Conservatives and another rule for everyone else.”
In an interview last week, Jenrick said the application was decided “on its merits” and done “without any actual bias”.
He added: “But clearly the way that the process was run gave rise to some concerns and so that’s why we’ve chosen to quash the decision.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Anti-Racist Protests Grow Outside Downing Street As Boris Johnson Holds Coronavirus Press Briefing

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Protesters and police came face to face outside Downing Street as thousands of people flooded central London for a Black Lives Matter demonstration in response to the death of George Floyd.
A crowd of demonstrators and officers were involved in brief scuffles, reports suggest, during a stand-off on Wednesday afternoon outside the gates of the prime minister’s residence.
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Video posted on social media showed objects being thrown at police and officers scuffling with unidentified people. One reporter at the scene said it happened after police “appeared to take a protester from the crowd”.
Police officers detain a protester following a clash near Downing Street. Reuters/Toby Melville
Yards away, Boris Johnson was giving a press briefing on the latest coronavirus updates.
Asked what his message to President Trump on behalf of the protesters outside, he said: “We mourn George Floyd and we are appalled and sickened to him.
“And my message to President Trump and everybody in the United States, from the UK, is I don’t think racism and racist violence has any place in our society.”
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He added: “I do think people have a right to protest and make their feelings known about injustices such as what happened to George Floyd and I would urge people to protest peacefully and in accordance with the rules on social distancing.”
Tens of thousands of people are taking part in the demonstration, which has so far been overwhelmingly peaceful.
It's kicking off now. Unclear exactly what started things. Police appeared to attempt to take a man from the crowd and pandemonium ensued pic.twitter.com/6XPGXV2HKt — Mattha Busby (@matthabusby) June 3, 2020
BREAKING - Crowd confronting police outside the gates of Downing Street. Officer punched in the face, numerous objects being thrown at police now. pic.twitter.com/tJ6ZnXUcv6 — Mark White (@skymarkwhite) June 3, 2020
Protesters throwing plastic bottles as two young men are arrested. #BlackLivesMattter pic.twitter.com/GMGkG4oo5g — Aamna Mohdin (@aamnamohdin) June 3, 2020
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Scuffle breaks out outside downing Street. Tempers starting to fray but organisers succeeding in calming #BlackLivesMattter Protestors for now. #BlackLivesMattterUK #BLMLDN pic.twitter.com/1hWEu61gdg — James Twomey (@twomey_james218) June 3, 2020
Floyd died after a white officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on May 25, sparking days of protest in the US.
At the London event on Wednesday, organisers provided masks and gloves to protesters who were asked to sit two metres apart unless they were from the same household.
Protesters were also told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around Hyde Park for the protest.
Protesters remained outside Downing Street chanting as a limited amount of traffic passed down Whitehall. Many climbed on to the window ledges of a neighbouring building as others talked with a line of police outside the gates to the street.
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More than a dozen officers were inside the gates watching the protesters.
At one point, police have escorted a man to the side of the road who was bleeding from the head, with blood over his clothes and camera.
Later, a crowd of protesters pushed a line of police into Parliament Square, as bottles were thrown in the direction of officers.
Another crowd then followed a group of officers to outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where protesters shouted “answer for your crimes” and “no justice, no peace”.
Officers formed two lines and rested their batons on their shoulders, shouting “get back” to protesters as they separated the crowds.
Naomi Smith, one of the event organisers of the Hyde Park event, told the PA news agency: “We want people to understand that people are dying from coronavirus and people are dying from racism.”
The 21-year-old said one of her reasons for protesting was Belly Mujinga, a railway worker who died with Covid-19 after reportedly being spat at by a man who said he was infected with the virus.
British Transport Police launched an investigation into her death but later said it would not be taking any further action.
Thousands of activists, including members of the railway worker’s family, descended on Victoria Station – where Mujinga was working at the time of the spitting incident – holding a sign that read “Justice for Belly Mujinga”.
“I think that is my main reason for this, because she’s black she doesn’t have a voice right now,” Smith said.
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“This is our story, this is a UK story, this is what’s going on right now with us. George Floyd is in America, and we’re here for him as well.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Boris Johnson Tells Trump: 'Racist Violence Has No Place In Our Society'

Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died in Minneapolis last week after a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. His killing sparked protests that have spread across the US and beyond.
Trump, meanwhile, has responded to widespread anger by threatening to call in the military to quell protests.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--John Boyega Among Thousands At London George Floyd Protest

John Boyega Among Thousands At London George Floyd Protest
Star Wars actor John Boyega was one of thousands of socially-distanced Black Lives Matter protesters in London's Hyde Park. The film star also gave an impassioned speech to protesters namechecking Black people who have died at the hands of police in the UK and US. The anti-racism demonstration in the UK's capital city was sparked by the brutal police killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd in the US. Since Floyd’s death rallies and protests have erupted in cities around the world, from Paris to Nairobi.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Boris Johnson Tells People Not To Move Gatherings Indoors As Weather Worsens

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Boris Johnson has urged British people not to move outdoor gatherings inside as the weather gets cooler and wetter this week.
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The prime minister on Monday eased the coronavirus lockdown to allow groups of up to six people to meet outdoors.
But with the temperature falling significantly and parts of the country seeing rain on Wednesday, he pleaded with people not to move their gatherings indoors.
Johnson also appeared to guarantee all young people an apprenticeship as he warned there would be “many, many job losses” due to the pandemic.
But first he addressed the latest lockdown rules, telling the Downing Street daily briefing: “Some of you maybe tempted to move the gatherings you’ve been enjoying outdoors indoors out of the rain.
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“I really urge you – don’t do that.
“We relaxed the rules on meeting outside for a very specific reason – because the evidence shows the risks of transmission are much lower outdoors.
“And the risks of passing on the virus are significantly higher indoors, which is why gatherings inside other people’s homes are still prohibited.
“Breaking these rules now could undermine and reverse all the progress that we’ve made together.”
Meanwhile, Johnson promised to be “interventionist” in the economic response to the pandemic.
“There will be many, many job losses”
The PM said young people “should be guaranteed an apprenticeship”, given how badly they have been hit by the lockdown despite facing a lower risk of death from Covid-19
Johnson said: “Tragically there will be many, many job losses and that is just inevitable because of the effect of this virus on the economy and because of the shutdown that has taken place.
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“All I can say is that in dealing with that fallout from coronavirus we will be as activist and as interventionist as we have been throughout the lockdown.”
Meanwhile, the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has said there could be 8,000 new cases of coronavirus a day in the UK.
He told the briefing that while the latest figures showed more than 1,800 a day had tested positive, data from the Office for National Statistics suggested the true figure was significantly higher.
At the same time he said the R – the rate of transmission – was still close to 1 which meant the numbers were not coming down quickly.
“We have relatively large numbers still not coming down fast. That gives relatively little room for manoeuvre. We have to tread very cautiously,” he said.
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He said the number of deaths was also coming down “but it is not coming down as fast as we would like it to come down”.
Vallance also warned there were examples internationally of new outbreaks of coronavirus since countries were moving towards easing their lockdowns.
“We’ve seen outbreaks reported in South Korea, there have been outbreaks reported in parts of Germany as measures have relaxed,” he said.
“So what has happened is the first peak has been suppressed and as the measures are released there is a danger that that comes back.
“There is also a risk that there is a second peak that comes as a wave goes across the world, so we are not out of this yet.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Protesting In A Pandemic: ‘Racism Is A Matter Of Life And Death, Too’

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People in the UK protesting over the death of George Floyd are more conscious of the coronavirus health threats than the government itself, a top professor has said.
Kehinde Andrews, professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University, spoke out against claims that large gatherings of people were risking a second spike of Covid-19, a virus that has killed more than 50,000 people in the UK so far. He said to pin a spike on the protests would be “ridiculous” given the general easing of lockdown restrictions.
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A police officer killed Floyd last week by pressing a knee into his neck for almost nine minutes. The death sparked protests that have spread across the US and beyond.
Street artist Akse spray paints a mural of George Floyd in Manchester PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
Andrews concedes there may be an elevated risk to those who are taking to the streets to protest – but points out that people of colour are facing a battle on two fronts: persecution over their race, and the virus, with a new government report confirming that people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are at significantly higher risk of dying from Covid-19.
The study, from Public Health England (PHE), looked at the risk factors for coronavirus and found BAME individuals have a much higher risk of death than white people, as do those from poorer backgrounds, men and anyone who is obese or suffering from diabetes.
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Andrews told HuffPost UK: “There have been a lot of discussions about whether we should protest – specifically because of that, because we are more at risk – but this is a really important issue. It’s important to make their voices heard and try to do so as safely as possible
“What the George Floyd killing shows us is that racism is quite simply the difference between life and death.”
From June 1, the lockdown restrictions were relaxed in England to allow up to six people from separate households to meet up in outside spaces, whilst maintaining social distancing at two metres. Outdoor markets and car showrooms have also reopened now that the rate of infection, or R value, has remained consistently, if narrowly, at or below 1.0.
According to analysis published in The Lancet this week, modelling suggests for every extra metre further away up to three metres, the risk of infection or transmission may halve. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends people maintain a distance of at least a metre between each other.
Stewards direct people as they begin to gather ahead of the Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park PA
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Asked if it is possible to protest safely, Andrews replied: “It’s definitely difficult to maintain social distancing, but in the messages that have gone around about the protests there has been awareness of this; instructions to wear a mask and not to come if you live with somebody who is vulnerable.
“The protesters are probably working harder to shield vulnerable people than the government at this stage. Obviously it’s difficult in a protest to social distance but people are making the effort.”
Coronavirus transmission factors include congregating in confined indoor areas with others where coughing, sneezing and shouting may potentially spread infection droplets. Protesters in the UK have been photographed wearing masks and observing social distances in some settings, and stewards have even been on hand with signs urging people to self-isolate after the event.
He added: “Given that the restrictions are being lifted and I think the evidence is pretty clear that outside transmission is lesser – given all of that and the importance of the issue, I think if people want to protest I think they are right to do so.”
Andrews also points to the scandal involving Dominic Cummings as being a factor in why people are more willing to congregate.
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Professor Kehinde Andrews says protesters are taking precautions Birmingham City University
He said: “The restrictions have been massively relaxed here plus, with the Cummings effect, I think it would be difficult to tell people not to go into the streets and protest. It would really be a double standard I think, from the government.”
Boris Johnson has stood by Cummings, who travelled 260 miles from London to Durham during the lockdown because of concerns over who would look after his son if both he and his wife were incapacitated by coronavirus.
Durham Police concluded he might have breached the regulations by taking a further trip to the beauty spot of Barnard Castle but took no further action.
A recent YouGov poll suggested that in total 7% of Britons may have used Cummings’ actions as their justification for their own breaches of lockdown rules.
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Andrews plans to attend a Black Lives Matter event in Birmingham on Wednesday.
People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Hyde Park, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. PA
He said: “It wouldn’t be right to tell people that you’re not allowed to add your voice to this issue. America has the same problem, maybe a bigger problem in some ways, with the virus – and the same problem with racial disparities. And again you’re seeing lots of people out on the street, because you can’t stop everything because of the virus.
“Racism is a matter of life and death and that is why people are coming out of their houses to protest.
“Seeing the image of a Black man literally die in front of you, at the hands of the police, it’s like a tinder box. This is why people are protesting so much in the US. It’s a reminder of what racism is.
“In the UK, you are about three times more likely to die in suspicious circumstances at the hands of the police and then you think about the reason the police behave in this way – it isn’t just about the police, it’s about general devaluation of Black life.
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“This protest is about all of those things. It’s not just about one person that was killed in America [...]. It’s just something that brings everything together. If you look at the BLM movement, which was sparked in similar circumstances, their platform is far, far, far, far broader than just police violence. You can’t really separate police violence from everything else. It’s just the most vivid example of the problem but it’s certainly not the only problem.”
People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest rally outside the St George's Hall in Liverpool, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. PA
On Wednesday prime minister Boris Johnson said he could understand the grief and anger following the death of Floyd.
He told the Commons: “The only point I would make to the House is that protests should be carried out lawfully and in this country, protests should be carried out in accordance with our rules on social distancing.”
On Sunday, thousands of people marched across London to protest against Floyd’s death.
A reverend at a church on Trafalgar Square, where the protest started, said she was “very sympathetic” towards those marching, but expressed some concern about how close they were.
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Reverend Sally Hitchiner, associate vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields, told PA: “It’s showing there are people in the UK who care passionately about the situation in the US.
“Clearly they’re not following lockdown and social distancing, but I think there’s a huge amount of passion there and that’s overriding their concerns.
“It’s an issue that requires passion but at the same time there’s a huge amount of risk in what they’re doing.”
But would it even be possible to pin any spikes in coronavirus cases specifically to the protests?
Andrews does not think so. He said: “To highlight the protests [as the cause for a coronavirus spike] would be ridiculous.
“The way that people are going back to school, going to the beach, walking around the parks – people are out. The protests are not really separate to it. If we were in the middle of lockdown, I don’t think people would be out in the streets and you could make a stronger approach to this. People aren’t just rushing out on the street and not thinking about it.
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“The government’s response has been mostly terrible but the messages have been pretty clear that it’s fine to go outside. It would be pretty impossible to trace anything back to protests.”
On Wednesday, anti-racism campaign group Stand Up to Racism is urging Britons to “take the knee” on their doorsteps at 6pm for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with protesters in the US.
Wherever you are, at 6pm on Wednesday 3 June, #TakeTheKnee +/ hold a sign on your doorstep to say #BlackLivesMatter, #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
The millions who stand against racism must be heard.
Details: https://t.co/GXJ4eYHf6F#BlackLivesMatterUK #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/dT70RqPz0b — Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) June 2, 2020
SUTR said the campaign was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by American football star Colin Kaepernick in 2016 that has become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.
SUTR’s Sabby Dhalu said: “BAME communities are suffering disproportionately from Covid-19, economic decline and police brutality.
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“We call on people to ‘take the knee’ on their doorstep in solidarity with George Floyd, at 6pm, Wednesday 3 June. We stand for justice for George Floyd and say Black Lives Matter.”
A separate protest has been taking place in London’s Hyde Park on Wednesday, while a further demonstration is scheduled for 1pm on Saturday in Parliament Square.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Watch Live: Boris Johnson Leads Coronavirus Press Conference

Watch Live: Boris Johnson Leads Coronavirus Press Conference
Prime minister Boris Johnson leads the Downing Street press conference alongside chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance. It comes after UK death toll rises by 359 in 24 hours bringing the total number of deaths to nearly 40,000.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Housing Minister Slammed For 'Woeful' Suggestion Rough Sleepers Move In With Family Or Friends

“It remains important to continue to help and support vulnerable people as the virus continues to pose a risk,” he said.
“As the risk reduces and we look towards easing the lockdown restrictions, we begin to enter the next phase of this endeavour and need to make plans for the future.
“We must continue to focus on ensuring accommodation and support arrangements can be managed safely to protect the most vulnerable, including those with complex needs.
“At the same time we need now to start planning the next steps for accommodating and supporting people to move on from emergency accommodation.
“We are doing so, and that is why we announced £433m of funding for accommodation for rough sleepers last weekend.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Tory MPs Lambast Priti Patel Over Plan To Quarantine Travellers

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Senior Tory MPs lambasted Priti Patel on Wednesday over plans to quarantine travellers coming to the UK, as Downing Street was unable to say whether chief medical officer Chris Whitty approved it.
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MPs questioned the “mental gymnastics” of introducing 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers on June 8, months after the country passed the peak of the coronavirus epidemic when no such measures were in place.
They warned that it could do serious damage to the economy at a time when the government is attempting to kickstart the recovery and called for more targeted measures such as “air bridges” or “travel gates” to screen out travellers from countries with high infection rates.
At one point, Patel appeared to incorrectly suggest that quarantine measures would have stopped Britons being repatriated at the height of the pandemic.
No, really. Priti Patel did just tell the Commons that quarantining the UK earlier would have meant citizens couldn't have been repatriated which is... not how it works... pic.twitter.com/U8GMHLx6Kn — Eleanor Langford is at home 🏠 (@eleanormia) June 3, 2020
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Boris Johnson’s official spokesman meanwhile was unable to confirm whether Whitty approved the plan but stressed it had “input and advice” from members of the government’s scientific group for emergencies (Sage), including the Home Office’s chief scientific adviser John Aston.
“The CMO (chief medical officer) and deputy CMOs have been engaged in the process throughout,” the spokesman told reporters.
Downing Street played down the prospect of the test and trace system replacing quarantine, despite the government’s testing chief professor John Newton suggesting it could on Tuesday evening.
It came as Patel, the home secretary, told the Commons quarantine was useful now that the UK has passed the peak of Covid-19 and was “more vulnerable to new infections being brought in from abroad”.
She confirmed the measures would be in place from June 8 and require arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days.
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The plan will be reviewed after three weeks on June 29 and Patel confirmed that the government would look to create more freedom for travellers including “international travel corridors” with some countries.
But several senior Tories criticised the plans.
“The idea that this was wrong when we were at the centre of a pandemic... it doesn’t add up to me” - Tory former minister Steve Brine
Former international trade secretary Liam Fox said: “I’m afraid I simply cannot get my head around the public health mental gymnastics of this policy.
“If such a barrier was required, why was it not introduced earlier in the outbreak and if it is a contingency measure against a so-called second wave, why apply it to countries with a lower infection rate than we already have?
“Surely the answer lies in the government’s test and trace system rather than unnecessary economic isolation.”
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Ex-minister Steve Brine echoed Fox’s concerns: “If I’m honest I think many people will think this is the right move at the wrong time.
“We keep being told to use our common sense - the idea that this was wrong when we were at the centre of a pandemic... it doesn’t add up to me.”
He asked for the introduction of “travel gates” rather than travel corridors to block travellers from high risk countries.
“Basically, a more targeted risk-based approach to the screening of passengers as happens with aviation security standards now.”
Former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said: “Can I urge her, suspend the implementation of this blanket quarantine requirement to give just a few more weeks to get those safe air corridors in place so we can save jobs in aviation and let families go on their summer breaks in the sun?”
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Several Tories called for a speeding up inthe process, including powerful 1922 committee chair Sir Graham Brady who warned hundreds of thousands of jobs were at risk and called for “clear criteria” for air corridors and the list of safe countries “well before” June 29.
Conservative MP Ben Spencer called for the UK to move as “quickly as possible” towards a “precise and targeted approach” to help protect passengers, staff and members of the public.
“The introduction of a 14-day quarantine is a very blunt tool with many downsides and consequences and effectively grounds the aviation industry,” said Spencer.
Patel said arrivals will be required to fill in a “contact locator form”, including details on where they will isolate and how they can be contacted.
She said: “The form must be completed in advance of travel to provide details of the journey and Border Force will be at the front line of enforcing this requirement.
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“Passengers require a receipt, either printed or on their phone, to prove they have completed the form.
“Border Force will undertake spot checks at the border and may refuse entry to non-resident nationals who refuse to comply. They will have the power to impose a £100 fixed penalty notice to those who don’t comply.”
Patel said the data collected will be used by Public Health England, which will undertake checks to ensure people understand and follow the rules, adding: “If Public Health England has reason to believe someone is not following the law as they should be, they will inform the police.”
A breach of self-isolation could result in a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England, or potential prosecution, Patel added.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Lea Michele Apologises After Glee Co-Star Samantha Ware Said She Made Working On Show 'A Living Hell

Lea Michele Apologises After Glee Co-Star Samantha Ware Said She Made Working On Show 'A Living Hell'

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Earlier this week, Lea was the subject of a tweet from Samantha, which later garnered support from a number of Glee stars, including Amber Riley, Dabier Snell and Willam Belli.
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After seeing a tweet from Lea in support of Black Lives Matter, Samantha accused her of “traumatic microaggressions” that made her “question a career in Hollywood” when they worked together in 2015.
LMAO REMEMBER WHEN YOU MADE MY FIRST TELEVISON GIG A LIVING HELL?!?! CAUSE ILL NEVER FORGET. I BELIEVE YOU TOLD EVERYONE THAT IF TOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY YOU WOULD “SHIT IN MY WIG!” AMONGST OTHER TRAUMATIC MICROAGRESSIONS THAT MADE ME QUESTION A CAREER IN HOLLYWOOD... https://t.co/RkcaMBmtDA — SAMEYAAAAAA (@Sammie_Ware) June 2, 2020
Lea has now spoken out on the matter, writing on Instagram: “One of the most important lessons of the last few weeks is that we need to take the time to listen and learn about other people’s perspectives and any role we have played or anything we can do to help address injustices they face.
“When I tweeted the other day, it was meant to be a show of support for our friends and neighbours and communities of colour during this really difficult time. But the responses I received to what I posted have made me also focus on how my own behaviour towards fellow cast members was perceived by them.
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“While I don’t remember ever making this specific statement and I have never judged others by their background or colour of their skin, that’s not really the point, what matters is that I clearly acted in ways which hurt other people.”
Lea Michele and Samantha Ware Michael Buckner/Variety/Shutterstock/Matt Baron/
She continued: “Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times or whether it was just my immaturity and me just being unnecessarily difficult, I apologise for my behavior and for any pain which I have caused.”
“We all can grow and change and I have definitely used these past several months to reflect on my own shortcomings.”
Pointing out that she is “a couple of months from becoming a mother”, Lea added: “I know I need to keep working to better myself and take responsibility for my actions, so that I can be a real role model for my child and so I can pass along my lessons and mistakes, so that they can learn from me.
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“I listened to these criticisms and I am learning and while I am very sorry, I will be better in the future from this experience.”
It was recently revealed that food company HelloFresh had ended their professional relationship with Lea, off the back of Samantha’s tweet.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--We Must Talk Diversity With Our Kids. Here's Where To Start.

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I am heartbroken by what’s happening in the world right now. Looking at it all, particularly the messages of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, it’s hard not to wonder what went wrong? What is the missing piece? How can we solve it?Honestly, I don’t believe there’s one way to heal our world, but I do think there are little actions we can all take individually to make a collective difference.
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If we search inside, I’m sure most of us will admit that a big part of who we are was formed early on. We shape our belief systems primarily from our place of primary care and I believe the absence of an introduction to diversity in the home plays a huge role in how we see ourselves and how we see others. The foundation of our worldview stems from our background – home, school, community and environment – and our levels (or lack) of confidence, kindness, and tolerance result from what is instilled in us from the very beginning.
It was when I had my daughter in 2017 that the lack of diversity in kids’ books and toys became glaringly obvious. There were simply not that many quality books that featured children who looked like her – even fewer where the lead character did. This bugged me, not just for my daughter but also for children of different races. If their books aren’t diverse, how do they embrace diversity?
Research says that by the age of two, children use race to reason about people’s behaviour. By the age of two and a half, most children use race to choose playmates. Racial prejudice is formed as early as five-years-old. This is astounding, but only goes to highlight the role that family life has to play in the fight for tolerance and acceptance. It shows the importance of introducing diversity in the home as early as possible.
It also emphasises that colour blindness is not the answer.
Philly & Friends Who Do I See In The Mirror? by Vese Aghoghovbia-Aladewolu
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I didn’t want my daughter growing up in a world where she didn’t think she mattered, so I started my own children’s brand, Philly & Friends – inspired by her nickname – and published my first children’s book, Who Do I See in the Mirror? I wanted to give my daughter and kids like her the gift of representation.
The books children read expose their minds to other worlds and possibilities. The adults we become are highly dependent on what we were exposed to as children. So, our children need to see themselves and others represented in the books they read, the toys they play with, and the media they consume. All these things have the potential to open kids’ minds and make them believe the opportunities before them and others are endless – regardless of what they look like.
As Nelson Mandela said: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
We must do right by the next generation. You believe what you see, and you become what you believe. If you don’t see yourself represented, it leaves a subconscious belief you aren’t good enough. If you don’t see others represented, it leaves little room for love and acceptance.
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I love receiving messages from parents about the impact of Philly & Friends and my book. This one really hit home: “Love your book. I just bought it for my 4-year-old. A girl at her school said she didn’t want to play with her because she doesn’t like her brown skin. My daughter came home saying she doesn’t like her brown skin, (she has never said this before) but since reading her your book, plus reinforcing how amazing she is, she is back to loving all of herself.”
That little girl is not alone. Hers is one of many stories of little black girls and boys around the world. We must do better. Diverse books and toys aren’t just for kids from minority ethnic groups. They’re for everyone.
Remember: we either fear, hate or accept what we don’t understand. To break the cycle, we need to teach our kids to celebrate difference. We’re not looking for the absence of colour, but a celebration of the variety of colours. So, I want to challenge you to look through your child’s toy box and bookshelf today – or that of your grandchild, niece, nephew or student – and ask yourself: is it diverse?
8 ways to incorporate diversity into your family routines
1) Make your children’s library diverse. Display a sea of colours.
2) Buy a wide range of toys for them. Their doll or action figure collection should include a variety of hues.
3) Introduce them to different cultures. You don’t have to be black to learn about Black history – we all learn European and American History at school.
4) Watch diverse TV shows. What characters are in the show? How are they portrayed? We don’t want children only see black kids portrayed as poor and hungry – the reality is so different.
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5) Talk to them about race – it is not a dirty topic; it is a fact of life. Teach them about acceptance and tolerance. Teach them that we are all equal.
6) As a parent, carer or family member, acknowledge your own privilege and challenge your subconscious biases and stereotypes.
7) Educate yourself. There’s so much information out there.
8) Follow a diverse range of accounts on social media that promote diversity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--John Boyega Gives Rousing Speech At Socially-Distanced Black Lives Matter Protest In Hyde Park

Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an impassioned speech to a socially-distanced Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park on Wednesday, namechecking Black people who have died at the hands of police in the UK and US.
Thousands of people gathered in the capital in a demonstration sparked by the brutal police killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd in the US last week. Since then, anti-racism rallies have been held in cities around the world, from Paris to Nairobi.
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Photo by: KGC-247/STAR MAX/IPx 2020 6/3/20 Demonstators at a Black Lives Matter Protest in Hyde Park in London over the death of George Floyd. KGC-247/STAR MAX/IPx
Boyega said: “Every Black person in here remembered when another person reminded you that you were Black.”
He added: “All those protesters on the other side, protesting against what we want to do, protesting against what we want to try and achieve – [...] I need you to understand how painful this shit is.
“I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing, and that isn’t the case.”
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
In his speech, Boyega referenced the deaths of Sandra Bland, a Black woman who died in police custody in the US in 2015, and Trayvon Martin, the Black teenager shot dead by George Zimmerman in Florida eight years ago.
He also referenced the racist UK murder of Stephen Lawrence, as he told demonstrators: “We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland.
“We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence.”
People begin to gather ahead of the Black Lives Matter protest rally in Hyde Park, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. PA
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He added: “I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but fuck that.
“Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones.”
“Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain’t waiting,” @johnboyega just told #BlackLivesMatter protesters in London’s Hyde Park pic.twitter.com/P49cbwIp6P — Haley Ott (@haleyjoelleott) June 3, 2020
Protesters were initially asked to sit two metres apart unless they were in the same household and were told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around the park, PA Media reports.
One steward also held a sign asking participants to “isolate for two weeks after protest”.
Stewards direct people as they begin to gather ahead of the Black Lives Matter protest rally in Hyde Park, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. PA
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Boyega, who was moved to tears during his speech to the protesters, continued: “It is very, very important that we keep control of this moment. That we make this as peaceful and as organised as possible.
“Because they want us to mess up, they want us to be disorganised but not today.
He added: “This message is specifically for Black men. Black men – we need to take care of our Black women. They are our hearts. They are our future. We cannot demonise our own. We are the pillars of the family.”
As numbers grew, many of the protesters were seen standing at close distance as organisers still tried to maintain appropriate spacing.
A man demonstrating in Hyde Park on Wednesday ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filippa, a 20-year-old student, told PA: “I know that I’m healthy. So this felt more important than to stay inside when I have the opportunity.”
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After Boyega spoke, the protesters left Hyde Park and made their way to Parliament Square and on to Downing Street while thousands of others walked to Victoria station, hanging a sign reading “justice for Belly Mujinga”.
Protestors have climbed onto government buildings as crowds shout “shame on you” outside Downing St. #BLMLondon pic.twitter.com/lbA9USeefa — Jenny Longden (@JenLongdenNews) June 3, 2020
Mujinga, 47, was a railway ticket officer who died of Covid-19 on April 5, two weeks after witnesses say she was spat on at work by a man who claimed to have the virus. Police have subsequently said they will take no further action and could find no evidence of a crime having been committed, which has left her family and community facing the prospect of no one being held to account for her death.
I’ve seen many protests outside Parliament but not many like this one before. It’s young and diverse. No serial protestors or the usual SWP signs. Just people asking to be heard. Let’s listen to them #BlackLivesMattter pic.twitter.com/hMi8RU0NZm — Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) June 3, 2020
Chanting “black lives matter” and “justice for Belly”, demonstrators walked among traffic along Grosvenor Place. Many of the trapped drivers honked their car horns in time with the protesters’ chants.
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Jaynielia, an 18-year-old student, said the Black Lives Matter protest was important because “Black innocent people are being killed by white police and it needs to stop”.
She told PA Media: “People’s families are getting destroyed by Black men being shot every day for no reason, they’re walking the street, they’re jogging, they’re going to the shops – why are they getting shot?”
She added: “The feds need to listen, white people need to listen, they ain’t hearing us. It’s like we have to fight back for them to hear us and it needs to stop from today.”
A police officer killed Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis last week. Protests have swept across America in the days since – some have been met with violence by police, and even threats of military intervention by the president.
Protesters take part in a demonstration on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Hyde Park, London. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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London mayor Sadiq Khan said the murder of Floyd had “rightly ignited fury around the world” and should serve as a “catalyst for change”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--359 More Coronavirus Deaths Recorded Across UK In 24 Hours

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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 39,728 – an increase of 359 over 24 hours.
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Since the end of April, the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Tuesday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK, as well as care homes in Wales, after contracting the virus rose by 215 in 24 hours.
That increase consisted of 179 in England, 11 in Scotland, 17 in Wales and eight in Northern Ireland.
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Meanwhile, as of 9am on Wednesday, 4,786,219 people had been tested for coronavirus, with 279,856 coming back positive. Some 171,829 were tested in the preceding 24 hours, with 1,871 positive. The government has again failed to disclose how many actual people were tested – some of the tests will have been duplicates on the same person.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--MPs Vulnerable To Coronavirus Promised Proxy Votes In Government Climbdown

MP's queuing up to vote in the House of Commons in Westminster, London, on the first day that they returned from recess. PA
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MPs who are especially vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic have been promised they can vote in parliament by proxy, Boris Johnson has said following a significant Tory rebellion.
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The government yesterday axed the system that allowed MPs to vote online.
It was introduced as a temporary measure to enable parliament to function during lockdown.
But critics of the decision to end online voting warned it meant MPs who are shielding or self-isolating due to age, disability, health or pregnancy, would be disenfranchised as it would not be safe for them to travel to parliament to vote in person.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it would place many at a “significant disadvantage”.
In total 31 Conservative MPs, including the chair of the Commons equalities committee Caroline Nokes, voted against the government.
Speaking during PMQs on Wednesday, Keir Starmer said scrapping the ability for MPs to vote online was “completely unnecessary and unacceptable”.
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“If any other employer behaved like this it would be a clear and obvious case of indirect discrimination under the Equalities Act,” the Labour leader said. “Stop this.”
In response, Johnson announced a partial climbdown.
“I apologise to those who have particular difficulties because they are shielding or because they are elderly,” the prime minister said. “They should be able to vote by proxy.”
The change means MPs who are shielding will be allowed to nominate a colleague to vote on their behalf.
A motion extending proxy voting arrangements to those Members who are shielding and those over the age of 70 will be tabled this afternoon for agreement tomorrow. — Leader of the House of Commons (@CommonsLeader) June 3, 2020
Last year the system was introduced to help politicians on parental leave who would not be able to attend parliament in person.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Emma Watson's Trio Of Blackout Tuesday Squares Brings Backlash

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Emma Watson has responded to scrutiny after critics accusing her of jumping on a trend by posting a trio of black squares on her Instagram account as part of the “Blackout Tuesday” campaign.
Watson’s feed initially featured three black squares with white borders, accompanied by the hashtags #blackouttuesday, #theshowmustbepaused, #amplifymelanatedvoice and #amplifyblackvoices.
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The posts attracted thousands of comments on both Instagram and Twitter, with some arguing that Watson, with a platform of more than 57 million Instagram followers, could have done more to amplify Black voices, especially considering her role as a U.N. Women’s goodwill ambassador.
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Other commentators highlighted Watson’s stylistic choice of bordering each black square in white, arguing that she had focused on maintaining the aesthetic of her Instagram feed instead of communicating a message of solidarity.
emma watson has 57.1M followers on instagram, her first post about blm has over 1M likes and instead of sharing links to petitions and donations, she thought the best idea was sharing 🔳🔳🔳? tf is that, open your purse, SPREAD INFORMATION — 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 (@gayrauder) June 2, 2020
emma watson not saying anything for the whole week and then posting a black blank pic in instagram that won't help in anything is just the peak of white feminism — victoire (@siriusclaw) June 2, 2020
emma watson gave a 1000+ word, fact checked speech about women's rights (heforshe movement) at UN headquarters but posted 3 identical pictures for blm on ig and logged off. this shit ain't addin up sis — AOS S7 SPOILERS | ᵇˡᵐ🌈 natalie rushman lovebot (@widowsquake) June 2, 2020
she didn’t say a single word until now and added a white border for her insta aesthetic pic.twitter.com/0OW24UDM2e — dilan (@enigmarih) June 2, 2020
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Defenders were quick to point out Watson has frequently used her Instagram account to highlight Black creators and activists.
Imagine thinking Emma Watson is a white feminist. Emma has been uplifting black voices for years when it wasn’t a trend. Y’all are trash and I am NOT here for you dragging an ally #blackoutuesday #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Gbs5W3gpVg — THEE AALIYAH FAN (@Pogo5673) June 2, 2020
I will not tolerate Emma Watson slander on my timeline. She has always been for human rights with a focus on feminism. She’s staying in her lane and simply saying: LISTEN TO BLACK PEOPLE #amplifyBlackvoices pic.twitter.com/STuremmz51 — Dani (@danidanidanidd) June 2, 2020
Emma Watson has been speaking up about racism since 2015 but y'all want to cancel her because she posted 6 posts in order to amplify a movement. Don't talk about aesthetic when your fav never address issues on their Instagram. Emma's whole feed is giving voice to minorities. pic.twitter.com/yEdHlgpcZg — green (@__LearnWithMe) June 2, 2020
Come on people, don't forget those who helped before and still doing it.
Emma Watson pic.twitter.com/JcQfTalLan — Alexis (@AlexisRV54) June 2, 2020
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Following the initial controversy, Watson added two more posts to her Instagram feed, one including artwork and a poem by Black painter Fahamu Pecou. Watson wrote that she had been “holding off posting until #blackouttuesday ended in the UK” and would devote future space on social media to sharing anti-racism resources.
The Blackout Tuesday campaign, which encourages people to post black squares to Instagram, was created by music executives Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang.
The campaign is part of their #theshowmustbepaused initiative “in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other Black citizens at the hands of police,” according to a message on the movement’s website.
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Emma Watson has an Instagram following of more than 57 million. Paul Hackett/Reuters


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--Tory MP On George Floyd Protests: ‘Arsonists And Looters Have It Coming’

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A Tory MP has sparked outrage after telling a constituent who asked him to condemn Donald Trump’s actions in the wake of George Floyd’s killing that “arsonists and looters have it coming”.
Sir Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest West in Hampshire, had been asked whether he could support the US after it threatened to send in the military to deal with civil unrest.
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In an email seen by HuffPost UK, he wrote back: “Racism is a cancer, and I’m glad that the perpetrator is on a murder charge. Nevertheless, looters, arsonists and rioters have it coming.”
Other constituents have also reported similar responses from the MP. In another email he wrote: “Arsonists and looters have it coming.”
It comes as UK voters appeal to their MPs to condemn Trump and urge the government to take action.
Floyd died last week after a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes. His killing sparked protests that have spread across the US and beyond.
I emailed my local MP asking him to condemn Trump’s actions, support BLM / black people in our community and urge the UK government to take action. This was his response to my email ... #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/1hsEH4BoqB — eleanor (@eleanormaryy) June 2, 2020
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Disgusted by @DesmondSwayne ‘s response to my letter, asking if he will condemn Trump & how he will address racial bias in this pandemic.
He is condoning Trump’s violence & he didn’t even address the 2nd paragraph of my email.
Please share. #BlackLivesMatter #BLM pic.twitter.com/pXekcuNqX6 — mle x (@amthxst) June 2, 2020
After several protests turned violent on Monday, Trump tweeted that he would use the military to restore order if governors did not.
And on Tuesday night in Washington, DC, local and federal law enforcement officials and military police officers were deployed in an overwhelming show of force meant to stamp out demonstrations against police brutality and racism. Protesters marched despite the threat of violence.
Sir Desmond Swayne Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Several of Swayne’s constituents revealed his responses on Twitter, commenting that they were “disgusted”. One described him as “perennially gross”. Some were urged to report him to the parliamentary standards commission.
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Swayne has been contacted for comment.
He also made headlines last year after revealing that he once wore “blackface” to dress up as James Brown and had “no intention of apologising”.
Bookmark this one too. He also refused to apologise for blackface last year, saying it was a “joke” https://t.co/efUDNgZAJA — mle x (@amthxst) June 3, 2020
Taking to his blog, he described it as “an entirely acceptable bit of fun” to dress up as other ethnicities.
Speaking to the Bournemouth Daily Echo, he said he did not understand why people from minority backgrounds might find it offensive, adding: “No one’s complained to me about it.”
Blackface has a history of perpetuating offensive and racist stereotypes of African Americans dating back more than 200 years in the US.
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“It’s a tradition rooted in racism which is very much about the fear of Black people and the laughing at black people,” Dr Kehinde Andrews, associate professor in sociology at Birmingham City University told the BBC in 2017.
In a 2016 blog post, declaring himself a “hot-blooded male”, Swayne waded into the row over the burkini ban being overturned by a French court.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-03--It's Time To Address The Myth Of BAME Solidarity

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This week it was reported that the Covid-19 death rate in England is higher among BAME people than white people. The announcement was very much in the shadow of the current Black Lives Matter protests, further highlighting the systemic, historic racism that British society is built on.
While BAME is a catch-all term to include all Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, the Black Lives Matter movement is just that: about Black lives, those of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage.
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Because, after all, it is not BAME Lives that are threatened disproportionately. Or POC Lives. Or BIPOC Lives. The acronyms represent such a broad section of the population, with different backgrounds, beliefs, ways of living. The only thing BAME people have in common is being othered. This means that there cannot be automatic solidarity among all BAME people with the Black Lives Matter movement.
“You do not get an automatic pass from also being from a minority. You have to show up, do the work, and become a genuine ally.”
For too long, the B in BAME has been diluted. Lumping all these groups together not only shows that we live in a white-centred world but that there is little regard for the unique experience of Black people, and the progression of other ethnic groups masks the lack of progress made in fighting racism against Black communities.
People hold up signs during a Black Lives Matter demonstration outside police headquarters in downtown Los Angeles ASSOCIATED PRESS
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It is equally not helpful to categorise entire communities with a few simple letters. In the US, the term BIPOC – Black, Indigenous and People of Colour – is becoming more commonly used, as anti-Black and anti-Indigenous sentiment and oppression are deep-rooted. While this goes some way to recognise those as unique experiences against the generalised POC term, it is still a very homogeneous way to identify people.
As a person of colour who identifies as mixed race of Indian and white Scottish heritage, I’ve known from early on that my experiences are different to other people of colour.
I am not a woman in a hijab. I am not a bearded Sikh. I am not a Black man. Facing police brutality and living in fear are not part of my daily life.
I acknowledge that despite any racism or discrimination due to my skin colour or name, I have a certain level of privilege from white proximity. I grew up in a predominantly white city and was the only person of colour in my class, my workplaces and social circles since have been largely white, and the world around me has typically been bathed in whiteness: cultural references, fashion, people in positions of power. I have benefited from the societal structures that make life so much easier for white people than they do for Black people. As will have many non-Black people of colour.
“Getting rid of the term BAME would help to signify that the differences between minorities are vast.”
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Not being white does not mean you can’t be racist. Racism and anti-blackness are prevalent within non-Black POC communities, both in the UK and US. I have friends from Indian Hindu backgrounds who would often wonder what would anger their parents more: falling for a Muslim or a Black person? In many Arab and South Asian countries, whiteness is seen as the ideal and having dark skin is seen as bad.
This means that all the work on solidarity and being anti-racist is just as pertinent for non-Black people of colour as it is for white people. You do not get an automatic pass from also being from a minority. You have to show up, do the work, and become a genuine ally.
Recognising the generations of ancestral trauma that are lived through Black communities goes some way to breaking down whether we need a term like BAME, which homogenises all minorities and can remove a sense of self. We have not lived those same experiences but we are all products of a society built on inherent racism and rooted in a colonial past that is easily washed over.
Getting rid of the term BAME would help to signify that the differences between minorities are vast. That we are all more than just a box on an equal opportunities form.
However, discussing whether or not a term should be used can easily distract from the fundamental issues at play. It’s vital that Black Lives Matter is separate to other BAME movements, because time and time again, it is Black people who are consistently oppressed, abused, marginalised and killed.
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Your solidarity is not based on your race. It is based on your actions.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-04--Is This What Future Gym Classes Will Look Like?

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New outdoor fitness classes which abide by Covid-19 social distancing rules are to be rolled out across David Lloyd health clubs in the UK.
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The chain said an expanded range of outdoor activities for up to six adults at a time will be introduced at 50 of its clubs over the coming days.
Up to 90 classes – ranging from “bootcamp-style” workouts to Pilayes and yoga – will be available each week, taking place around the clubs’ external pools, garden areas and tennis courts.
HuffPost UK David Parry/PA
Once gyms are allowed to reopen, the company said 80% of its clubs will also operate “second gyms” in their indoor tennis courts, with equipment spaced apart to meet social distancing measures.
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Glenn Earlam, chief executive of David Lloyd Leisure (DLL), said: “Obviously the recent good weather makes it a great time to launch, but none of these new activities are weather dependent, and we plan to continue running them into the future.
HuffPost UK David Parry/PA
“More and more exercise is going outside and we firmly believe the ‘new normal’ in exercising will be all about embracing the great outdoors.”
Mr Earlham said while the outdoor activities will initially be for up to six people, they have been designed to work for larger groups should the government permit it.
The chain said it had doubled the number of its cleaning staff and introduced screening in its reception and cafe areas.
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HuffPost UK David Parry/PA
Under the latest government guidance, gyms and swimming pools in England can now be used to train elite athletes, but remain closed to the general public.
Mr Earlham said the company was “well ahead” with its planning to reopen all of its facilities – including gyms – once the rules change.
He said there was now a “greater emphasis” on cleaning and social distancing protocols, adding: “We are uniquely placed to ensure this as our clubs are large spaces – many of over 100,000sq ft, mainly with large outdoor areas.
“This means not only do our members naturally have lots of room to spread out, but we will also be operating new schedules when we reopen allowing us for example to not only halve the number of people in classes, but also leave time between classes for a robust cleaning process.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-04--Our Economic Response To Covid-19 Risks Further Entrenching Inequality

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Like most people I have been deeply worried by the growing evidence about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on our Black and ethnic minority communities. The latest ONS data shows BAME communities are suffering twice the death rate of white communities. The poorest communities are also dying at twice the rate than the richest communities are dying. I cannot be alone in thinking that there are clear links between these two tragic statistics.
Our pre-existing inequalities have made our country particularly vulnerable to this pandemic. Unfortunately, the economic response so far risks entrenching the inequalities that have already weakened us.
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Twenty per cent of the UK’s social enterprises, businesses which trade to deliver their social or environmental mission, are based in our most deprived areas. One in eight are led by BAME chief executives and directors, compared to one in twenty traditional SMEs. Yet these businesses are falling through the gaps, unable to get access to grants or finance that meets their needs. British cooperative businesses have also been left out of government thinking, despite being concentrated in the Midlands and the north which are the core of the Prime Minister’s “levelling up” agenda. Coops and social enterprises report that one million jobs are at risk unless the government takes action.
If we let these businesses that work in our toughest communities go to the wall, we will be counting the cost in years to come.
We have just lived through one of the slowest and most painful economic recoveries in British history. We relied on business as usual to get us back on track and it did not work. Growth has been anaemic. Productivity is on the floor. Wages took ten years to get back to their pre-crisis peak.
The prime minister’s election victory was based on a repudiation of the previous economic strategy. He recognised then, as we all do, that we have to do things differently. We need to target support at those places that have been left behind. We need to reduce inequalities which undermine our resilience and deprive us of talents that can power our economy forward.
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There are three quick things that government can do to push us towards a better economic model. Firstly, we need to back businesses working on the frontline in our poorest communities and with vulnerable people. Let’s target any support at those that most deserve it rather than treating everyone equally. The truth is that some businesses are working harder to support the national recovery than others. We should recognise that in our tax system as well as how we award contracts to businesses in the future. Secondly, we need to reform our public services to reduce inequalities. This means breaking down silos between public bodies and using different models of delivery, such as social enterprises and charities, which have a track record of success. Finally, we need to reinvest in our civil society, not just our traditional cultural institutions but also charities, voluntary organisations and community centres.
Social and cultural capital is critical to strengthening communities and boosting economic performance. Richest areas do not have more charities and voluntary associations because they are rich, they are rich because they have access to the social and cultural capital that these organisations provide. The fact that nine out of ten small BAME voluntary organisations are at risk of running out of cash in the next three months is deeply worrying and an example of how without action we could make our current inequalities worse. Renewing and expanding the cash grants programme into local community resilience, whether that is through backing social enterprises or charity should be seen as important as bricks and mortar. Investing in our social infrastructure over the coming weeks is as important as investing in our long-term physical infrastructure.
An inclusive economic agenda must not be lost in the midst of crisis. Falling back on tired and failed methods will only lead to the same poor results.
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If we get our immediate economic response wrong, we risk entrenching inequalities that will cost us down the line as we have seen during this crisis. We must break the cycle. Closing the gap between our communities is not just a moral good, but an economic necessity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-04--Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak Could Have To Self-Isolate If Alok Sharma Tests Positive For Coronavir

Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak Could Have To Self-Isolate If Alok Sharma Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Says No.10

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Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak could be forced to go into 14-day self-isolation if cabinet minister Alok Sharma tests positive for Covid-19, Downing Street has confirmed.
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The three ministers held a 45-minute meeting in No.10 on Tuesday, the PM’s spokesperson revealed today.
Sharma is currently in self-isolation after displaying a high temperature while at the despatch box, but his test result has not yet been received, the spokesperson said.
Under the new NHS Test and Trace system, anyone who tests positive is asked to supply a full list of anyone who they have been in “close contact”, including those who have spent more than 15 minutes with a colleague at a distance of less than 2m.
No.10 stressed that the meeting of Johnson, Sunak and Sharma had observed usual social distancing rules but said that if the test-and-trace professionals advised them to go into a fortnight’s self-isolation they would do so.
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“We would follow the advice which is being given by the medical experts,” the PM’s official spokesperson said.
“He did attend the meeting in No. 10, which took place before cabinet. That was a discussion on the economy. And in terms of who was present, it was the prime minister, the chancellor, and the business secretary.
“Should the secretary of state receive a positive test, then he will work with the test and trace service to share information about his recent interactions. They will be able to provide the necessary advice.
“Meetings which are taking place in No.10 are all properly socially distanced. It is not as simple as saying that if you have been in a room with someone and you test positive you are required to self isolate. The guidance sets out there is more to it than that.”
However the guidance does state that there would be need for a full discussion about any contacts within a “workplace”.
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During the Commons debate yesterday, Sharma was seen wiping his face with a handkerchief several times and his opposite number in Labour’s shadow cabinet, Ed Miliband, passed him a glass of water at one point.
The PCS union, representing about 800 of Parliament’s clerks, security guards and kitchen staff, wrote to the the PM highlighting the case in saying the decision to end virtual voting was endangering the workers.
“We believe Parliament has opened too soon and the lives of PCS members, and those of our sister unions, are being put at risk unnecessarily,” general secretary Mark Serwotka wrote.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis stressed it was too early to suggest Mr Sharma has definitely contracted the virus.
“I don’t want to be premature because Alok, who I wish well and hope he recovers quickly, may well have had severe hay fever, we’re not sure yet,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-04--Stop Using Lee Rigby's Memory To Oppose Anti-Racist Protests, His Mother Tells Trolls

Lee Rigby’s mother has urged right-wing social media users not to use images of her murdered Royal Fusilier son to “fuel arguments against the Black Lives Matter protests”.
Pictures of Fusilier Rigby, who was 25 when he was killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in Woolwich seven years ago, have been repeatedly used in recent days by people criticising anti-racist demonstrations on both sides of the Atlantic.
In a post on the Lee Rigby Foundation Facebook page, Lyn Rigby said her family were “aware of a number of posts using images of Lee and his murder in a divisive way”.
She said: “Lee proudly served his country to protect the rights and freedoms of all members of this great melting pot of a nation.
“Seeing his image used to cause hate of any kind, especially for those exercising their freedoms in protest against this issue, hurts.
“We find these posts extremely heartbreaking and distressing, and in complete opposition to what Lee stood for.”
Over the past few days, some social media posts from people opposed to the Black Lives Matter protests have compared his death and the reaction to it with that of George Floyd in the US.
Floyd died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25, sparking protests throughout the US and, more recently, the UK.
Users have wrongly claimed protests did not take place in the UK after Fusilier Rigby’s murder. But his death did in fact spark demonstrations by far-right groups – and violent attacks were made against a number of mosques in the following days.
More than 1,000 protestors from the English Defence League assembled in front of Downing Street on May 27, 2013, with hundreds of anti-facist activists also attending in opposition.
According to The Guardian, 13 people were arrested. Two men were also jailed after firebombing a mosque in Grimsby, four days after Fusilier Rigby’s murder. A report by hate-monitoring group Tell MAMA published in 2016 found that there had been 100 attacks against mosques since the soldier’s death.
Speaking out in the wake of a resurgence in the use of her son’s image, Lyn Rigby wrote: “We ask you all to please stop using his image and memory in such posts as he was a lover of all of humanity. Every race, gender, creed, sexuality and colour.
“So seeing such use of his name harms not only his family but his legacy and memory.”
Rigby added: “Our thoughts and support goes out to George Floyd’s friends and family at this tragic time.”
It’s not the first time Fusilier Rigby’s family have had to plead with social media users and far-right groups to stop using his name.
In April 2016 Lyn Rigby condemned an election broadcast by Britain First that used her son’s name and image in order to call for an end to mass immigration.
At the time the video was published – to promote leader Paul Golding as a candidate for London mayor – Lyn Rigby said her son did not share Britain First’s views, adding that the family had repeatedly asked them not to use his name.