On 21st June, protestors of the Black Lives Matter movement marched from Hyde Park to the Trafalgar Square in London as they protested the recent appointment of Munira Mirza as head of the government’s racial inequality board.
Mirza, Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit, has received considerable flak for describing structural racism as “more of a perception than a reality”.
Barriers erected down Whitehall to separate anti-racism demonstrators from far-right counter protesters last weekend were still in place. Therefore, protestors were forced to walk down the river bank to reach the square. Speeches were given by different groups from the base of Nelson’s Column.
In her speech, organiser Imarn Ayton called for the removal of Ms Mirza in setting up the PM’s commission on racial disparity. She said,
“We are all here today because we know that black lives matter, we are all here today because we know that black is beautiful.
“And we are all here today because we know that it is time to burn down institutional racism. Boris Johnson has heard our cry and has responded with a new race inequality commission.
“We appreciate it but we know that a grave mistake has been made…He has appointed Munira Mirza. This is a woman who does not believe in institutional racism – she has argued it is more of a perception than a reality.”
While the protest passed peacefully, tensions flared about 15 minutes before the rally in Trafalgar Square was due to end after a man was stopped for allegedly racially abusing a black police officer.
A tight knot of people gathered around the police and the detained man, making it impossible for the police to leave the square with the suspect.
A police officer said the individual had been arrested in connection with the alleged racial abuse, and for possession of stolen property relating to a bike.
