Scots plan to protest against ‘oppressive US forces’

Black Lives Matter events have been planned for Glasgow and Edinburgh for Sunday, June 7, with an earlier Stand up to Racism event planned for the capital tomorrow.

Protestors in Edinburgh will take to the Mound off Princes Street at 6pm in a “solidarity action”.

The Glasgow event’s Facebook page states: “We have all seen the horrific crimes within the last few weeks, especially, committed by the hands of oppressive forces in America.

“It is essential we recognise that the UK also has built itself on crimes just as severe, past and present. The time to show solidarity is now.”

However, there are worries around the spread of Covid-19 and Scotland still has a ban on mass gatherings.

Caroline Gray, the organiser of the Edinburgh event, said: “We are taking safety precautions very seriously for social distancing.

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“I have been in contact with the police and the council and both have given me very positive feedback about this protest and our precautions, announcements will be posted on the Facebook event once everything is confirmed.”

Gray has also asked all attendees to wear a mask and remember it is a peaceful protest.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We absolutely understand why so many people feel so strongly about the death of Mr Floyd – but it continues to be the case that, in the interest of public health and preventing the spread of Covid-19, mass gatherings are not allowed.”

Both weekend protests are scheduled for June 7, the Edinburgh event will start on the east side of Princes Street Gardens at 1pm, while the Glasgow one will aim to begin at 2pm at Glasgow Green.

Meanwhile, in the USA protests have raged on for the sixth day.

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Though Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyd’s neck while he passed away, has been arrested and charged with murder, pressure has grown for the other three officers who were present to also faces charges.

Medaria Arradondo, chief of police in Minneapolis where the protests started, said he believed all four officers were “complicit”.

Arradondo said: “There are absolute truths in life. We need air to breathe. The killing of Mr Floyd was an absolute truth, that it was wrong, and so I did not need days or weeks or months or processes or bureaucracies to tell me that what occurred out here last Monday was wrong.

“This was a violation of humanity. This was a violation of the oath that the majority of the men and women that put this uniform on [take] – this goes absolutely against it. This is contrary to what we believe in. What occurred to me, it was an absolute truth that it was wrong, period.

He added: “Being silent or not intervening, to me, you’re complicit. So I don’t see a level of distinction that’s any different.

“Obviously the charging and those decisions have to come through our county attorney’s office, certainly the FBI is investigating that, but I want you to know my decision to fire all four officers was not based on some sort of hierarchy.”

President Donald Trump has not been quiet during the affair, despite turning off the White House lights and reportedly taking shelter in a bunker.

In a group call yesterday morning, Trump said: “If you don’t dominate your city and your state, they’re going to walk away with you. In Washington we’re going to do something people haven’t seen before.”

The president went on to call Minnesota an “experiment” in how to handle protests, saying: “You had the first part which was weak and pathetic, and you had the second part which was domination.” He repeatedly blamed the “radical left” for the unrest as well as slamming states with democratic governors such as New York and Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, Barack Obama has weighed in on the protests, sharing online an article he wrote.

In the article, titled How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change, Obama writes: “The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

“I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighbourhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back.

“So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalise it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.”

The former president called on protesters to use both activism and their right to vote to force real change.

He highlighted how, despite the media circus around presidential elections, the majority of the decisions that affect people’s day-to-day lives are made at a local level.

He concluded: “If we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

“Let’s get to work.”