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Despite calls by the police for the coronavirus to remain at home, several hundred people in London, including far-right activists, gathered for a demonstration in Central Parliament Square.
Many people gathered at the wartime Prime Minister’s monument to Winston Churchill and the Kenotaf, a monument to British soldiers killed in wars. Both monuments had previously been forged with plates by order of the authorities.
Officials fear that far-right activists allegedly seeking to protect the monuments will try to provoke conflicts with protesters against racism.
Paul Golding, far-right leader Great Britain First, said activists had gathered to “protect their monuments.”
“I am terrified that the government has allowed vandalism against our national monuments for two consecutive weekends,” he told the Press Association.
Monuments around the world have become “hot spots” for demonstrations against racism and police violence caused by the death of the black George Floyd.
In Britain, these protests sparked a national debate over the empire’s legacy and its role in the slave trade. On Sunday in Bristol, protesters toppled a statue of slave trader Edward Colston, dragged it into the harbor, and dumped it into the water. In London, the W. Churchill statue was ridiculed for the words “it was racist.”
Police imposed severe restrictions on Saturday to avoid violent clashes. Authorities also fenced other monuments in Parliament Square, including the statues of Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln.
Police Chief Bass Javid urged people not to sail at all, or at least follow the planned route, until 5 p.m. due to the threat of coronavirus. Get off the streets. The disobedient run the risk of being arrested.
According to the chief, although most of the protests last weekend were peaceful, some protesters “tended to disrupt the order,” leading to attacks on the police and violence.
Many people were arrested last weekend.
One of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) groups said it was withdrawing a protest scheduled for Saturday over the presence of far-right activists. However, some anti-racist demonstrations are likely to take place.
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