Protesters join Stand up to Racism Southwark on march against prejudice

Anti-racist demonstrators took to the streets on Father’s Day in peaceful protests in support of Black Lives Matter.

The event organised by Stand Up to Racism Southwark opened with Christian ministers saying a prayer of peace and solidarity.

Southwark Liberal Democrat councillors Graham Neale and William Houngbo called for support for future generations.

Singer Sashy Beau led the crowd in songs by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, while Tanya Murat from Southwark Defend Council Housing spoke out about housing shortages and the current pandemic.

She said: “Our rulers are fond of saying that the virus doesn’t discriminate, but the effects very much do discriminate.

“The same is true of so-called regeneration, social regeneration, which we call social cleansing.”

Protesters marched peacefully down Walworth Road to Elephant & Castle.

Spectators cheered and motorists – including bus drivers – honked their support.

Police liaison officers guided their route without incident, in contrast to far-right counter-protesters in previous weeks.

The march ended with a rally in St Mary’s Churchyard at the Elephant & Castle.

Suhella, Stand Up to Racism activist and co-organiser of the event, said: “I’m proud to have grown up in South London, but more importantly I’m proud to be black and I’m proud to be African.

“And every time any politician says Britain is the most tolerant society, I think, I’m not here to be tolerated. It’s liberation or nothing.”

At the opening, artist Cat Amoroso said: “The UK is not innocent. We are not innocent. I am not innocent, which has become even more apparent to me through this time of educating myself about race and privilege.

“I am learning how much internalised racism that I have, which I have held against others as well as myself, racism that I have unknowingly acted on, even though I am mixed race myself.”

Pictured top: The anti-racist demonstrators marching on Sunday