Hundreds join Black Lives Matter protest in Peterborough

Hundreds joined the #BlackLivesMatter protest in Peterborough. Picture by David Lowndes

The protest took place in Cathedral Square at 1pm this afternoon (Saturday, June 6).

Hundreds of people were in the Square with social distancing evident.

There were speeches and many voices were heard shouting ‘I can’t breathe’, which follows the death of 46-year-old African-American George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis.

Black Lives Matter protest on Cathedral Square

Protests began in the US last week after viral footage showed Mr Floyd being arrested and a white police officer continuing to kneel on his neck, even after he pleaded that he could not breathe.

The #BlackLivesMatter movement was founded in 2013 in the US following the acquittal of George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American boy. Zimmerman had called the police telling them that Martin was behaving “suspicious” before confronting him and shooting him after a struggle. Zimmerman claimed that he was acting in self-defence.

Black Lives Matter campaigns against violence and systemic racism aimed at black people through protests and digital activism.

Black Lives Matter protest on Cathedral Square. Picture David Lowndes

The movement was founded by black community organisers Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, though they have highlighted the need for locally led movements rather than national leadership.

#BlackLivesMatter gained momentum and support as a movement following the deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014.