Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday deemed "scandalous", "inexcusable" the death of George Floyd, an African American killed by a white police officer in the United States, while asking protesters to protest "in a legal and reasonable manner" before several actions planned in London.
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"I think what happened in the United States was scandalous, it was inexcusable," said the head of the Conservative government during the weekly question period for members of the House of Commons, his first statement on the subject. "We have all seen it on our screens and I fully understand that people have exercised their right to demonstrate," he added. "Obviously, I also believe that the demonstrations must take place in a legal and reasonable manner".
The death of George Floyd sparked numerous protests and an outbreak of violence in many cities in the United States but also in other countries. A demonstration is planned for mid-day in Hyde Park in London, while at the end of the day an anti-racism association calls on the demonstrators to put their knees on the ground in front of their homes so that they can speak while respecting the rules. physical distance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Hundreds of people protested last Sunday to express outrage over the death of George Floyd to the U.S. Embassy in the British capital. 23 people were arrested. British police officials said on Wednesday they were standing alongside "those who are scandalized" by the death of George Floyd, while recalling the restrictions on assemblies due to the coronavirus.
"We are also scandalized to see the violence and the damage which has occurred since in many American cities," they add in this statement published on the website of the National Council of Chiefs of Police. "We know that people want their voices heard" and "the right to demonstrate legally remains a key element of any democracy," they continue, recalling that rallies of more than six people are proscribed to fight the coronavirus. "If people want to assemble for any reason, we ask them to continue to cooperate" with the police.
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Highlighting the British police tradition of working in harmony with the population, police officials highlight their efforts to combat racism and discrimination. However, in October 2015, a report by an independent think tank, Runnymede, estimated that "systemic and institutional racism" persisted in Great Britain.
