The anti-racism demonstrations in the UK are “subverted by thuggery”, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, condemning the attacks on police officers after ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests held over the custodial killing of George Floyd turned violent and the COVID-19 lockdown was breached by thousands of people for a second consecutive day.
African-American Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after white police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes while the 46-year-old handcuffed man gasped for breath.
The footage, which went viral, showed Floyd pleading with the officer, saying he can’t breathe. The four police officers seen in the footage have since been charged. Floyd’s death has triggered widespread protests across the US and in many other countries.
Johnson took to social media on Sunday to say that the anti-racism cause of the demonstrations had been betrayed by the “thuggery” of some protestors as the Metropolitan Police made 12 arrests for public order offences as well as criminal damage to monuments in central London.
“People have a right to protest peacefully and while observing social distancing but they have no right to attack the police,” said Johnson.
“These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery – and they are a betrayal of the cause they purport to serve. Those responsible will be held to account,” he said.
The Met Police said a “small minority” of protestors had provoked scenes of violence and launched attacks at officers and threw objects, including glass bottles and fireworks at them.