A protester in Minneapolis, USA, the epicentre of the Black Lives Matter movement now. Photo: Jason Hargrove
Protestors will try and provoke positive change and show support for all black people with a peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protest in Lincoln on Thursday.
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Protests also recently erupted in Minneapolis in America after George Floyd died when a policeman knelt on his neck when in custody. He has now been charged with his murder.
The peaceful protest in Lincoln will take place at the tank memorial at the Tritton Road roundabout from 5pm on Thursday, June 4.
Ceri Leech said she is not the organiser, but created a Facebook event to help raise awareness and give more exposure to the protest, as she wants to get as many people involved as possible.
People are being encouraged to wear masks and stick by social distancing rules at the protest.
Up to 100 people are expected to join.
The peaceful protest will take place at the tank memorial at the Tritton Road roundabout.
Ceri told The Lincolnite: “We have a speaker who will be talking about her experience of racism in Lincoln, so people realise it’s not just an American issue. This is happening in Lincoln too.”
Student Ewa Wawrzyńska, 18, will be among the protestors and said: “We are doing this protest as it’s not just about what’s happening in America. Our own Prime Minister is racist, a lot of schools are still racist and hide it.
“It’s important to me because the black community would do the same for us. We need to fight for them. The UK’s hands aren’t clean either and many people of colour died here too.”
Elliot Antrobus, 22, a fellow protestor and student at the University of Lincoln, added: “It’s time to stand in solidarity and speak up. We all have an ethical responsibility to help in the plight of others. It’s time to stand!”
Alessandra Marthaler, 27, also plans to attend the protest. She said: “I’m participating to stand up for a cause which I believe in, to hopefully better the world for this and future generations.
“Black Lives Matter is a message that everyone should concern themselves with and get educated on. Black history is widely disregarded and silenced in our schools. We are all one human race and the fact that we still have racism ingrained in our society, culture and economy is an absolute joke. We can do better.”
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “The shocking death of African-American George Floyd outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 has sent ripples of anger, fear, frustration and sadness across the globe. For many black people in particular, this is history repeating itself and playing out in real time on both social media and the mainstream media.
“This tragic and avoidable death undermines everything the police service stands for, respect, justice and protecting the public, regardless of skin colour or background. Putting on the uniform every day is a proud moment for all of us but at times like this we need to check on those around us too, to make sure they are feeling the same way.
“We are supportive of positive change coming about as a result of this incident and will play our part in continuing to ensure officers uphold the highest standards of behaviour and professionalism. Our thoughts go out to the family of George Floyd in the hope that his death will not have been in vain.
“Indira Gandhi once said ‘you cannot shake hands with a clenched fist’, and likely reflects how many of the protesters in America, and elsewhere, including the UK may be feeling.
“Freedom of speech and peaceful protest are fundamental rights to be upheld and promoted, and whilst acts of violence will not be tolerated, we will continue to police our communities through engagement and with hands and arms open.”
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The viewing platform looking out onto Brayford Pool will be brought back into use next month as work continues on the £25,000 project.
It’s expected to be completed by mid-February after it’s been blocked from use for almost five years due to being unsafe.
It’s in the same location where controversial plans for a second floating restaurant were rejected by the city council’s planning committee in 2016.
It was then overruled by the government’s planning Inspectorate 13 months later after a successful appeal by The Brayford Trust and Investors in Lincoln. However, as landlords, the city council rejected the plans.
As part of the discussions, the city council proposed a loan and annual grant of £25,000 for The Brayford Trust to carry out dredging and improvement works.
Designs for the floating restaurant on the Brayford. | Photo: Stem Architects
A further grant of around £25,000 has been allocated to the trust by the city council to construct a new viewing platform.
Gelder Group won the tender for the project and started work in the second week of January on the platform.
David Rossington of The Brayford Trust told The Lincolnite the main aspect of the project is making the area safe, as some of the foundations were coming away.
New boards will be put in and extra protection underneath to make them safe, ready for the platform being available for public access.
Once complete, the platform can also be used at events and for outdoor performances.
The platform has fallen into disrepair and was closed off in 2015 due to safety concerns. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Mr Rossington, who has been involved with the trust for seven years, told The Lincolnite: “The trust is delighted to bring the viewing platform back into use.
“It was unused for a number of years for safety reasons and will come back again for the public. It will be there for the enjoyment of the Lincoln public as they walk along the Brayford.”
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
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