Black Lives Matter protestors prepare to march on UK cities for a fourth straight weekend as scuffles break out between demonstrators and police in Glasgow
- Black Lives Matter protestors planning to march on UK cities this weekend
- Police expecting crowds of demonstrators in London, Glasgow and Birmingham
- Over 100 officers have been assaulted since the end of May, Met Police say
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protestors are preparing to march on UK cities for the fourth consecutive weekend as scuffles break out in Glasgow.
Police are expecting crowds of anti-racism demonstrators to take to the streets in London as well as cities including Birmingham.
Footage shows officers wearing face masks clashing with demonstrators making their way to George Square in Glasgow today.
Tensions between anti-racism protestors in the square and over 100 police in attendance - including riot and mounted officers - are building.
Forces have warned against violence and urged crowds to follow social distancing rules introduced at the height of the pandemic.
Twenty-four people have been charged with offences in connection with the BLM protests and far-Right counter-demonstrations across the UK. Ten have been charged in relation to protests in London over the past three weekends.
One man, Andrew Banks, has already been jailed for urinating next to the memorial of PC Keith Palmer who died in the Westminster Bridge terror attack.
Tensions between anti-racism protestors in George Square, Glasgow and over 100 police in attendance - including riot and mounted officers - are building
Footage shows police officers wearing face masks clashing with anti-racism demonstrators making their way to George Square in Glasgow today
Protesters have gathered in Glasgow despite being warned by police to stay away
Protesters have gathered in Glasgow despite being warned by police to stay away.
Organisers said the Say No to Racism event is aimed at 'sending a positive anti-racist message from Glasgow's George Square to the world on World Refugee Day'.
Supporters include Stand Up To Racism, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Positive Action in Housing, Afghan Human Rights Foundation and unions.
Arrivals included members of the Green Brigade, linked to Celtic ultras.
Attendees were asked to wear masks, adhere to two-metre distancing rules and not to travel farther than public health advice allows.
Police horses and riot officers were used to control their arrival in the square.
Loyalists and members of a far-right group announced online last night that they plan to head to the square to 'protect statues'.
On Friday night, Police Scotland, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and the head of Glasgow City Council called on the public not to gather at the location.
Supporters include Stand Up To Racism, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Positive Action in Housing, Afghan Human Rights Foundation and unions (Twitter grabs)
Organisers said the Say No to Racism event is aimed at 'sending a positive anti-racist message from Glasgow's George Square to the world on World Refugee Day'
Clashes have broken out over recent weeks at the square, including violent scenes from a far-Right group on Wednesday.
Chief Superintendent Hazel Hendren of Greater Glasgow said: 'The disgraceful scenes we have witnessed in George Square are completely unacceptable and a robust policing response is in place for anyone intent on causing violent disruption.'
'Please do not come to George Square tomorrow.'
At least six people were arrested on Wednesday following scenes labelled 'disgraceful' by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Far-Right loyalists targeted a rally calling for improved living conditions for refugees.
Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins said Police Scotland is 'absolutely committed to respecting people's rights to freely and peacefully express their views'.
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: 'Please do not come to George Square tomorrow - you will put yourself and others at risk.
'We are at a crucial point in our journey out of lockdown and it remains the case that it is still not safe to gather in large crowds.
'I understand that many will want to make their voices heard. But, for now, I urge you to find alternative means of doing so.'
Police are expecting crowds of anti-racism demonstrators in London as well as cities including Glasgow and Birmingham (pictured, activists marching through Birmingham yesterday)
Andrew Banks was seen urinating next to a plaque honouring PC Keith Palmer who was stabbed to death during a terrorist attack in Westminster in 2017
Banks (right), has already been jailed for urinating next to the memorial of PC Keith Palmer who died in the Westminster Bridge terror attack. Left: Banks in court
The words 'Black Lives Matter' painted in yellow, covering the length of the walkway from Thomas Street to General Gordon Place in the centre of Woolwich, south London
People marching during a Black Lives Matter (BLM) rally in Birmingham city centre yesterday
It comes as Met Police Commander for Specialist Crime, Alex Murray, revealed that over 100 officers have been assaulted since the end of May.
Police have also urged people not to protest during the pandemic, while lockdown rules still prevent mass gatherings in England.
Ahead of protests in London today, Commander Murray said: 'I really hope we're not going to see what we saw last weekend or the weekend before.
'We don't have any information there's anyone from the Right wing attending but we have got information that large crowds of people will be attending.'
In the UK capital, monuments including the statue of Winston Churchill were boarded up after his plinth was defaced.
Though the covers have been removed, police have no plans to position large numbers of officers around them to protect them.
Commander Murray added: 'We won't have pre-prepared cordons around statues, but we will act on intelligence and information and if we hear something like that is planned then we would act as the public would expect us to.
'The police have never asked for those statues to be protected.
'That's a matter for the local authority. Our focus is on reducing violence and protecting the public, protecting citizens.
'But we will also investigate if criminal damage takes place. So we will prevent violence and we'll also try to prevent criminal damage.'
People have been urged to stay away from George Square in Glasgow ahead of an anti-racism rally due to take place (pictured, demonstrators in Birmingham yesterday)
Yesterday, hundreds of protestors staged a four-hour BLM rally and marched through Birmingham. Three officers 'took the knee' during the peaceful protests
The Met have released images of 35 suspects they want to speak to in connection with violence at last weekend's protests, which turned violent.
Banks, 28, was handed a 14-day immediate jail term on Monday after admitting one count of outraging public decency after coming to London to 'defend' statues.
On the same day two other protesters were remanded into custody after admitting assaults on police officers. Daniel Allan, from Sunderland, admitted one count of violent disorder for kicking a police officer in the back.
The court heard Allan, 36, had travelled from his home as groups of right-wing protesters sought to protect statues around Whitehall and Trafalgar Square.
Previously, James Meikle, 38, admitted two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker for charging at police lines separating protesters in Soho.
Police fought to maintain control in Trafalgar Square on Saturday amid both Black Lives Matter (BLM) and pro-statue protests in London last Saturday
A man identified as a far-right protester was carried to safety as animosity was briefly set aside on a day of clashes in London between rival groups and police last Saturday
Meikle had decided to spend his last day in London marching in support of the BLM movement, but found himself remanded into custody until his sentencing on July 14.
On the same day Ferirai Mzila, 24, appeared in court charged with assaulting an emergency service worker during the protests of June 13.
Hasan Khan, 21, has been charged with possession of a class B drug and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 13.
Liam Hanley, 29, was charged with possession of a class A drug and is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 10.
Matthew Cardwell was charged with criminal damage and will also appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 10.
Two people have been charged for their role in the BLM protests of June 6.
Christopher Scott, 28, denied two counts of assaulting an emergency worker after allegedly stubbing a cigarette out on the body-worn camera of one police officer, and kicking out at another.
Orson Shandilya, 23, has been charged with harassment and possession of a class A drug and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 3.
Brendon Cummins, 18, will appear at the same court on June 30 charged with assaulting an emergency service worker in relation to a protest on June 1.
Yesterday, hundreds of protestors staged a four-hour BLM rally and marched through Birmingham. Three officers 'took the knee' during the peaceful protests.
Last weekend, hundreds of mainly white men - extremist and non-extremist - joined in a counter-protest to the BLM demonstration in central London.
A mob of Right-wing goons pelted police with bottles, barriers and fireworks in Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square last Saturday.
About 1,000 protestors ignored a 5pm curfew and stayed by Nelson's Column where troublemakers on both sides sparked skirmishes with police.
BLM protestors gathered in Hyde Park, before 300 headed to Waterloo station after 5pm and chased men they said were members of the EDL. There, at least 15 people were injured, including six officers, and six people were taken to hospital.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMigwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg0NDIyMzkvQmxhY2stTGl2ZXMtTWF0dGVyLXByb3Rlc3RlcnMtcHJlcGFyZS1tYXJjaC1VSy1jaXRpZXMtZm91cnRoLXN0cmFpZ2h0LXdlZWtlbmQuaHRtbNIBhwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg0NDIyMzkvYW1wL0JsYWNrLUxpdmVzLU1hdHRlci1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzLXByZXBhcmUtbWFyY2gtVUstY2l0aWVzLWZvdXJ0aC1zdHJhaWdodC13ZWVrZW5kLmh0bWw?oc=5
2020-06-20 11:16:51Z
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