June 19, 2020 10.13 am This story is over

Black Lives Matters protesters reminded to stick to COVID-19 rules

Nearly 800 people could attend this weekend’s event
The first BLM protest in Lincoln in June 2020. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Protesters attending a Black Lives Matter event in Lincoln this weekend have been reminded but Lincolnshire health bosses that COVID-19 rules are still in effect to keep people safe.

The gathering on Saturday, the second to take place this month, is expected to be of around 800 people.

Protestors will begin at University of Lincoln library at 5pm, marching uphill to the Cathedral again.

Organisers of the event picked the second date to cater for worries about the spread of COVID-19, waiting two weeks between the events.

Lincolnshire County Council’s deputy director of public health said there had been “no obvious upswing” of cases since the last event on June 4. Official figures for Lincolnshire say there have been no new confirmed cases in 10 days for the county.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

However, he warned that the number was “always going to be partial”.

“It’s fairly clear that this disease is fairly mild for a lot of us, especially younger people, and a lot of people may have had it from those protests and not realised that they’d had it, so it’s always difficult to be certain about these things.”

He said people “should know the rules by know” or, if they are planning to attend, “make sure they’re familiar”.

“People really need to think about that ability to socially distance and do their hygiene, hand washing and all those sorts of things if they are going to come out to those kinds of events.

“The general rules of safety apply everywhere and to every circumstance including public gatherings for demonstration purposes.

“The virus still out there people need to be taking care.”

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

 

Social distancing is being made compulsory, with plans to lay out floor markings at the cathedral meeting point being made.

People are also being asked to dress in red and black colours, alongside their PPE, in honour of the movement and to show their support.

In response to the recent riots and civil unrest across the globe, organisers have said there will be zero tolerance to criminal damage and disorderly behaviour.

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