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UK Black Lives Matter protests, statues removed

This photo taken on June 10, 2020 shows a statue of an 18th century slave trader removed from outside a London museum, as protesters in Oxford demanded a similar fate for a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes.

Murtaza Jaffer
Press TV, London

On the 25th of May, precisly one month ago, the murder of unarmed African-American George Floyd shocked the world. Yet no one could have predicted what was about to happen next with worldwide protests across scores of countries. This report takes looks back at just how significant the last month has been. 

Exactly one month ago an unarmed man was pinned to the ground and choked to death by the very people responsible for his safety. 

Little did he know his final words “I can't breathe” would spark a call for change across the world. 

As footage of the murder went viral, people all over the US took to the streets. while this had happened before, this time something felt different. 

Soon protests hit Europe, then Africa and then Asia. Racism was now front and centre with thousands calling for reform and an acknowledgement that our histories and societies are deeply rooted in racism, slavery and colonialism. 

What’d been ignored for so long was now undeniable. in the UK the statue of infamous Slaver Edward Colston was torn down. At oxford university authorities finally agreed to remove the statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes. In central London the statue of Winston Churchill had to be boarded up because of his racist policies. 

World leaders were forced to speak out and acknowledge age old racial disparities

Similar scenes were witnessed across Europe. in Sport athletes took the knee in solidarity with the black lives movement.

The progress over the last month is clear for all to see, conversations of racism and soul searching are widespread with people keen to understand the movement, but seizing the momentum is the true challenge. 

George Floyd will go down in History but what his death signifies remains to be seen.


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