Black Lives Matter: Protesters to gather in Edinburgh today

Campaigners want Scotland to show its support for action against racism.
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Anti-racism protesters are to gather in the Capital today in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

Large numbers of people are expected to meet in Holyrood Park from 1pm.

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Black Lives Matter: Planned Edinburgh protest over George Floyd’s death moves lo...
Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrating in central Birmingham this week. Picture: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty ImagesBlack Lives Matter protesters demonstrating in central Birmingham this week. Picture: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrating in central Birmingham this week. Picture: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
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Protests in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement have sprung up across the world, with thousands of people converging on Parliament Square in London yesterday. Thousands more are expected to rally outside the US embassy today.

Today’s event in Edinburgh had originally been planned to take place in Princes Street Gardens, but organisers asked those interested in attending to instead join them in Holyrood Park.

The event comes as politicians have urged people to avoid mass gatherings and adhere to two-metre social distancing rules in public places.

Speaking yesterday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I want to urge you to make your voices heard. We all feel very strongly about this, but I want to ask you to do so safely.

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“Coming together in mass gatherings right now is simply not safe - it poses a real risk to health and it poses a real risk to life.”

She added: "Please for the safety of all of us, do not attend large gatherings - including protests - of more than six people this weekend.

African American Mr Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on May 25, sparking days of protests in the US.

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