The murder of George Floyd: One year on
#TakeTheKnee actions will be happening today (25 May) in Essex, marking one year since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of a white police officer
The murder of George Floyd one year ago today captured the world’s attention and sparked a global Black Lives Matter movement.
Killed at the hands of a white police officer, George Floyd’s death became a focus point for greater equality.
A viral video, which saw a police officer kneel on George Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes 29 seconds as he struggled to breathe, came to represent systemic racism across the world.
In the aftermath of his death, thousands of people around the world joined protests and demonstrations against racism.
The toppling of a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol catalysed schools, buildings and roads that celebrated such figures to change their names.
In America earlier this year, Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was found “guilty, guilty, guilty” on counts of second-degree murder, third degree murder and second-hand manslaughter.
However, while the murder conviction and the removal of slave trader statues may mark some change, some campaigners argue that racial equality in the UK has actually worsened in the year following the death of George Floyd.
The Government's report on racism
The UK Government’s report on racism earlier this year which found “no evidence of institutional racism” in the UK proved hugely controversial, with the Labour party dismissing it as “cherry picking” statistics.
The report, which was commissioned last year by Boris Johnson in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, was described by Labour MP David Lammy as an “insult to anybody and everybody across this county who experiences institutional racism”.
Regarding the progress of race relations, founder of the Black Reformist Movement (BRM) Imarn Ayton said that the UK had taken “one step forward and five steps back” and described the race report as having "undermined those pivotal conversations" of the past year.
Ms Ayton added: “We were just about making progress, and now we’re actually going backwards, we’re in a regressive state."
A week of action
One year on, protests continue to take place in the UK, with demonstrators calling for "justice" in the face of "systemic racism which exists in the UK".
#TakeTheKnee actions will be happening today (25 May) in Essex.
People will be meeting in Harlow Town Park at the bandstand this evening at 6pm.
Meanwhile in Southend-on-Sea, UNISON are leading a #TakeTheKnee event at 12.30pm at the Civic Centre.
A second public event will then take place at Southend Victoria station at 5.30pm.
At a protest in London on Saturday, organiser Elizabeth Adofo said:
"It’s been one year since everyone across the world marched in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
"We’re here to say it’s still important, even after the cameras stop showing up, even after the big crowds on the streets, it is still important to spread that message.
"It doesn’t matter that Derek Chauvin got convicted, that is a small amount of justice of what he really deserves."