06.06.20
Today I was privileged to take the knee and raise my fist with thousands others during a peaceful ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest at the Parliament Square in London against the murder of African American George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
George was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill to purchase cigarettes.
The death, reflecting the state sponsored injustices on African Americans, sparked the Black Lives Matter Movement protests that have spread across the US and across the world.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, and with mass gatherings not allowed and meetings restricted to 6 people, protesters ignored the rules and took part in the historic march. The 2 metre social distancing was not observed. However, most of the protesters were wearing masks. A lot were holding up placards with evocative messages: “Racism is the real pandemic”, “White silence is violence” etc.
It was beautiful to hear people chant “No justice no peace” “Black Lives Matter”, “I can’t breath” and “George Floyd”.
Attending the protest was a moving experience that would stay with me forever.
Particularly at the time when I am conducting a literature review on apartheid and the experiences of Botswana ex-migrant miners in apartheid South Africa for my project.
“George Floyd is a symbol of a much bigger problem” noted Professor Tricia Rose on BBC on Monday 08, a day before Big Floyd’s funeral in Houston. Indeed, George Floyd’s death is a catalyst for change to a number of global issues rooted in anti-Black racism.
Long live George Floyd! Long live!
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 