Black Lives Matter march and protest set for Portsmouth next week

A rally and march will start at Guildhall Square and finish on Southsea Common on June 27. It will begin at midday and end at 4pm.

Speakers will give speeches at the common, with music put on as well.

The route will take marchers through Palmerston Road.

Waterlooville resident Anita Anongu, 52, is among the organisers for the Saturday protest and march. She previously spoke about her London-based nephew Ibrihim Noor, in his 30s, who died in Pentonville jail on September 7 last year.

She said: ‘I was quite down thinking about my nephew and lots of different things.

‘Organising this has lifted me up – it gives you a reason to carry on and get the word out there.’

Milton-based Alexandra Ruddock, 27, took her daughter Nala-Paris Mbah to the last protest on June 4.

The four-year-old started a chant of ‘black lives matter’ from the steps of Portsmouth Guildhall.

Speaking to The News, Alexandra said she would be attending next week and added: ‘If it’s anything like the one that happened on the fourth, it was one of the most powerful events I’ve been to.

‘It’s empowering, for everyone, not just black people, mixed race people, but white people too.

‘For me I wouldn't bring my daughter to any event I didn't believe was safe.’

She added: ‘It’s just to support the movement and keep supporting it as things aren't changing dramatically.

‘I's been going on for a long time.

‘Numbers speak volume, so the more people that go the bigger the turnout, the better it will be for the movement.’

Police and Portsmouth City Council have both been informed about the plans.

City council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said the group had previously been ‘extremely responsible’ and avoided confrontation with a ‘right-wing group’ last Saturday at the memorial in Guildhall Square.

He said: ‘This is a way of people showing that, if they want to join, they support the campaign to make sure that we recognise the problems caused by racist behaviour, both in the UK but particularly in relation to the police in America.’

SEE MORE: Inspirational Portsmouth community leader discusses her achievements, racism and Black Lives Matter

Asked if racism is a problem in Portsmouth, the senior councillor said: ‘I think there’s probably a problem everywhere. I think in Portsmouth we have a really strong record of people working together.’

He added he has strong memories of standing in front of a mosque in the city with a vicar after far-right thugs threatened to burn it down.

Details for the protest are here facebook.com/events/s/black-lives-matter-protest-por/3597847946896792

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