*Black Lives Matter UK activists on Friday shut down traffic leading into Heathrow Airport, a.k.a. the busiest airport in Europe.
According to CNN, the “#shutdown” protest was part of a planned series of demonstrations set to take place across the region Friday to mark the 5th anniversary of the police killing of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old black man whose death in London sparked massive protests across Britain.
We call a nationwide #Shutdown because #BlackLivesMatter, because this is a crisis.
05.08016 pic.twitter.com/dLaqBcS9DJ
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 4, 2016
In a statement to BBC News Friday, Black Lives Matter UK said the day’s protests were a way of mourning those who have died in police custody while pushing for change.
“We have chosen today for our action to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Mark Duggan’s death at the hands of the Metropolitan Police,” the statement said. “We stand in solidarity with the families and friends of all who have died at the hands of the British state.”
Ten protesters were arrested at Heathrow, police told CNN. Protests are also taking place in Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester.
View pics and video below:
#blacklivesmatter protestors in the UK have just blocked the motorway route into Heathrow pic.twitter.com/lpTqk6qyAH
— SymeonBrown (@symeonbrown) August 5, 2016
Solidarity with those disrupted by systemic racism & violence, Birmingham #Shutdown pic.twitter.com/D8kJdqvT8B
— Maya Evans (@MayaAnneEvans) August 5, 2016
Road get lock arff. #Shutdown lock arff pic.twitter.com/zRgFpnZ24x
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
^That’s in London. This is Birmingham. #Shutdown (via @MayaAnneEvans) pic.twitter.com/Xe1wJd12qB
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
Full #Shutdown in London. Motorway closed. Police have made at least 4 arrests pic.twitter.com/QyA7COd46p
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
We are here because we have no choice. We are here because this is a crisis. #Shutdown #BlackLivesMatter #BLMUK pic.twitter.com/bzIhp4fBHL
— Wail Qasim (@WailQ) August 5, 2016
On Monday in the States, the Movement for Black Lives collective released its official platform, including a list of six demands aimed at reversing the impact of institutionalized racism: end to the war on black people, reparations, invest-divest, economic justice, community control, and political power.
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