Thousands march in London as three different protests flood the streets
Thousands of protesters took to the street on Saturday as three different demonstrations converged in central London.
Family and friends of Chris Kaba joined an annual event to remember those who have died in police custody, led by the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) in Trafalgar Square.
During the march some people held signs which read “No justice, no peace” and “No more deaths in custody”.
The UFFC has held the march every year since 1999. This year’s event came less than a week after Met firearms officer Martin Blake, 40, who shot Mr Kaba in Streatham in 2022, was found not guilty in a murder trial at the Old Bailey.
Mr Blake stood trial after shooting the 24-year-old through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham on September 5, 2022.
After the case concluded, the judge lifted reporting restrictions to reveal that Mr Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most notorious criminal gangs, and was allegedly linked to two shootings in the week before he was shot by police.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing whether Mr Blake should still face disciplinary proceedings.
On Saturday, five family members dressed in black – including members of Mr Kaba’s family – delivered a handwritten letter to Downing Street, listing the names of those killed by the police.
At the same time, thousands marched from Victoria railway station to Whitehall in a demonstration which aimed to support those jailed over the UK riots this summer.
The protest was organised on behalf of Tommy Robinson, who missed the event after he was remanded into custody by police.
Demonstrators carried placards reading “Two tier Keir fuelled the riots”, “Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the Boats”.
Two arrests were made at the demonstration, one on suspicion of a breach of the Public Order Act conditions in place and an alleged breach of the peace, and one on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, the Met said.
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism also took place at the other end of Whitehall, which called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.
Protesters held up Palestinian flags and placards which read “Oppose Tommy Robbinson” and “Stop the far right” as they marched through the streets.
Counter-protesters heard from speakers including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP Diane Abbott and trade union general secretaries.
Two arrests were made near the Stand Up to Racism protest according to the Met. One woman was arrested, and then de-arrested, on suspicion of common assault, and another arrest was made after an officer was allegedly assaulted.
Another arrest was made on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after a racist remark was allegedly directed at a police officer. The Met said it had not been confirmed which protest the person was attending.
Pictured top: People take to the streets in support of Stand Up To Racism during a counter-protest against a Pro-UK rally endorsed by Tommy Robinson (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)