Murdered George Floyd
The DUP leader said the rallies should “desist” and campaigners should “find different ways to protest”.
She explained that the law “is clear on mass gatherings” because of the COVID-19 pandemic and “two wrongs don’t make a right”.
The PSNI estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 people attended a rally at Belfast City Hall on Wednesday to demonstrate about racism and the death of George Floyd in the US.
Mrs Foster said that people have “cancelled mass gatherings because it’s against the law”, and referred to funerals and the cancelled Twelfth of July celebrations.
The DUP leader said she understood “there’s a legitimate right to protest”, however, “everything in this country has had to take a step back because of the Coronavirus”.
“It will be a couple of weeks before we see the impact of that mass gathering in Belfast the other day; we will see if it has had an impact on the virus.
“I very much hope that it hasn’t.”
The North’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride appealed for young people to think of “alternative ways” to express their “outrage” that “doesn’t put vulnerable people at risk”.
He said “there is no cause that this virus respects, no matter how important”.
“It is about balancing rights – right to protest, right to highlight the injustices that we have seen on our television screens, but also the responsibility that comes with that,” said Dr McBride.
“I would appeal to young people when they are gathering to restrict those numbers to six and no more, and to keep to the rules around social distancing.”
He added that “we have a long road to run yet” with regard to the pandemic.
“If we look at the evidence, being two metres apart in terms of social distancing is almost twice as effective if not more than one metre.”
The Derry rally in support of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign is scheduled to be held tomorrow, Saturday, June 6, at Guildhall Square at 3 pm.
Up to 2,000 people attended Black Lives Matter rally in Belfast on Wednesday
The organisation was set up in 2012 to promote equality of opportunities and protection for people of different ethnic backgrounds in Northern Ireland.
Lilian Seenoi- Barr, Director of Programmes at the NWMF, appealed for anyone attending Saturday’s event to follow social distancing guidelines.
“We want to invite anyone and everyone to come and take part in our peaceful rally.
“The fight against racism is one that we must fight together so we ask you to join us as we demand justice for our brother George Floyd and call for an end of institutional racism, police brutality and historic complacency over the loss of black lives.
“The time to show solidarity is now.
“We hope to create an inclusive event where people of minority ethnic communities and organisations are at the centre of our focus and can inform our collective resistance.
“If you have symptoms indicative of COVID-19 or if you are shielding and are unable to attend the event, we want to encourage you that you can still get involved.
“We will be live streaming the gathering online so you can watch from home or you can show your support by posting a Black Lives Matter poster online or around your home.”
Tags: