SEVERAL hundred people have attended a rally at the Guildhall this afternoon in support of the Black LIves Matter rally.
During the rally, the Guildhall Square went silent as those who assembled went down on one knee 8 minutes 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd who was murdered by a police in the US.
The 3 pm protest was organised by the North West Migrants Forum.
NWMF found and director Lilian Seenoi-Barr thanked those who turned up at Guildhall Square to support the protest.
She told the assembled crowd: “Thank you for your support. Thank your for making this protest happen.
“Thank you for standing by us.”
She ended her speech at with a cry of ‘Black Lives Matter’ which echoed throughout the Guildhall Square
As protestors gathered for the rally, police warned demonstrators to disperse or they faced fines or prosecution for breach of lockdown rules.
The crowd responded with chants of ‘Black Lives Matter and ‘No Justice, No Peace’.
The clock Guildhall at Guildhall will be lit up yellow today in support of the Black Lives Matter rally.
Earlier in the day, police in Derry said they would be conducting checks on roads and at the local transport hub ahead of the planned protest in Derry.
The PSNI said: “If you are travelling to take part in a protest which will involve more than six people gathering outside, you are likely to be in breach of the Health Protection regulations.
“You can therefore expect to be stopped, advised to return home and could face a fine or court appearance.”
But as the crowds at Guildhall Square, hundreds of people defied the police warning to come and support the rally.
Tags: