Education is key in ending racism, Chichester BLM organiser says

In the wake of the death of George Floyd as he was being arrested by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis last month, anti-racism protests have swept across the UK, with more than 1,000 people attending a rally in Chichester last week.

Organised by the newly-formed Black Lives Matter Chichester, the peaceful protest began in East Street, before protesters marched to Priory Park.

Attendants took a knee and observed nearly nine minutes’ silence, the length of time Chauvin knelt on Mr Floyd’s neck.

One organiser, 22-year-old Abigail Edwards, from Whyke Road, said the event went ‘amazingly’ and called it a ‘defining moment’ for the city: “We were only expecting a couple of hundred people to come. It was really moving.

“It was amazing people came along who weren’t going to speak but did and spoke about their experiences. It was really amazing.

“Everybody was so engaged and really wanted to listen to what people had been through and how we can move forward as a city.

“I think it was definitely emotional.

“It seemed to bring everybody together.

“It was a big defining moment for Chichester – it is something that people will remember, this isn’t a trend.

“We have got to keep learning and keep educating and doing whatever we can to keep this message and spread awareness.

“We were shocked not only by how many white people were there but the diversity of ethnicities and age groups – there were tiny little kids and elderly people.”

BLM Chichester has plans for the future, including encouraging local schools to incorporate black history into their curricula.

BLM Chichester will work with education charity The Black Curriculum.

Abigail added: “I think for me it would have been really helpful, there is nothing about parts of my past and parts of my own culture.”