Public urged not to join George Floyd protests over weekend as thousands set to take to streets of capital

Ministers have urged the public not to join George Floyd protests over the weekend, warning that "coronavirus remains a real threat", with thousands expected to take to the streets of the capital.

The warnings came after large crowds marched in London and Birmingham this week to protest about the treatment of Mr Floyd – a 46-year-old black man who died after a white officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on May 25.

Footage of the incident shows the unarmed Mr Floyd gasping and pleading “I can’t breathe”, after police apprehended him for the alleged use of a counterfeit $20 bill.

Peaceful protests in London have been scheduled for Saturday in Parliament Square at 1pm and on Sunday outside the US embassy at 2pm.

Anti-racism protests have also been organised in other cities across the UK this weekend, in solidarity with US campaigners for Black Lives Matter.

Demonstrations are planned in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Ipswich, Leicester and Sheffield.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "appalled" by Mr Floyd's death and understood people are "deeply upset" but warned: "Please, for the safety of your loved ones do not attend large gatherings including demonstrations of more than six people.”

"We are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat," he added.

Home Secretary Priti Patel reiterated the Health Secretary's comments, writing on Twitter: “Please for the safety of all of us, do not attend large gatherings – including protests – of more than six people this weekend.

“As Matt Hancock said, coronavirus remains a real threat and people must protect themselves and their families from this horrific disease.”

Echoing the warnings from Government ministers, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor from the Met Police said that the protests should not take place under current coronavirus restrictions.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The health protection regulations are really clear that it is unlawful.

“The Government said that for health reasons people should not be meeting in groups of six, so we would strongly encourage people not to come out and gather in these large numbers because they are putting themselves and others at risk.

“And if they do come out, then we would ask them to observe that social distancing, think about those around them.”

The Lord Mayor of Dublin has also urged people not to join anti-racism protests in the city on Saturday.

A socially-distanced protest is due to go ahead outside the US Embassy in Ballsbridge in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

Gardai have warned protest organisers that mass demonstrations are in breach of Covid-19 regulations and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Tom Brabazon, urged people to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement by signing an online book of condolence.

He told Newstalk FM: “I understand why people were angry and I understand the need to protest but we are in the middle of a pandemic and I would urge people to look at alternatives in terms of getting their message across.

“One of those ways is the online book of condolence that was opened up by Dublin City Council.

“And while a lot of the individuals will be responsible and try to socially distance, it is not always going to be possible with those numbers involved.

“They really need to take a second look at having this protest and look at other alternatives. I would plead with them to do so.”

But Chic frontman Nile Rodgers has said he is “bewildered and perplexed” that some people don’t understand the pain felt by members of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rodgers, 67, spoke during an online festival hosted by London’s Brit School on Instagram on Friday, with label, management and publishing company The Other Songs.

He said: “I am a very optimistic person and I would really like to believe in my heart that this is the beginning of change, because young people are really the people who have the power to affect change.

“If they stay on the path, we could be in an amazing time right now.”

Rodgers added: “What has changed for me now that I am older is that I feel a huge amount that young people today have a sense of optimism, that they really have the power to change the world and change society.

“I really try and look at all issues from all sides.

“You know me, as a musician I always talk about DHM – and what I mean by that is the deep hidden meaning of a song.

“I like to understand the song’s essence on a granular level and I like to understand issues like that too.

“I am bewildered and perplexed that people don’t understand the pain that we feel, that when a person says ‘Black Lives Matter’ they are not saying to the exclusion of other people’s live matter. How do you not understand?

“But I can also listen to people and see why they tell me they don’t understand.”

In an open letter to the British people on Friday, US ambassador to the UK Robert Wood Johnson said it was through peaceful protest that injustice was most successfully addressed.

He said: “The US Embassy in London is united with the British public in grief over the tragic death of Mr George Floyd, which deserves universal condemnation.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Floyd family.

“His death is a reminder that as a nation we must do more to fight racism and injustice.”

During a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Friday, protester Dee Ndlovu said: “I kneel because of the names and the voices that have been lost to the wind.

“I kneel for the ones who are not heard and the ones who do not get a hashtag, the ones who do not get pictures or a social media campaign, the ones who have been forgotten in history and time. I kneel because of them.”

Taking a knee is a peaceful gesture to protest against police brutality which was first carried out by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem at an American Football game in 2016.

The protest came after pockets of protesters clashed with police as thousands of people flooded into central London and abandoned social distancing for a demonstration on Wednesday.

After a largely peaceful demonstration in Hyde Park, during which Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an impassioned speech, tensions later escalated outside Downing Street, where there were 13 arrests.