Brits urged to ‘take the knee’ on their doorsteps tonight in memory of George Floyd

An anti-racism campaign group has urged Britons to ‘take the knee’ on their doorsteps for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with protesters in the US.

The group, Stand Up To Racism, has organised a protest for 6pm on Wednesday as part of action against discrimination following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Mr Floyd was killed last week after a police officer held him down by kneeling on his neck.

Since then, there have been protests in more than 30 cities across the US and more across the world.

The campaign by Stand Up To Racism was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by American football star Colin Kaepernick in 2016. 

Weyman Bennett of SUTR said: “Racism is the underlying condition that continues to kill black and BAME communities. Take the knee at 6pm because there is a boot on the neck of millions of people in the BAME community.

“Part of the cure for the virus of racism is to embrace anti-racism and anti-fascism.”

SUTR’s Sabby Dhalu said: “We call on people to ‘take the knee’ on their doorstep in solidarity with George Floyd, at 6pm, Wednesday, June 3.

“We stand for justice for George Floyd and say Black Lives Matter.”

Separate protests have been planned across the UK including one this Saturday, June 6th, in Piccadilly Gardens at 1pm.

The police have said their approach will be to engage with protesters and encourage them to follow social distancing rules.