Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The New York Times reports:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain on Friday made a series of critical comments about large anti-discrimination protests that were prompted by the death of George Floyd, and said people “should not support” the demonstrations.
With more rallies planned in London and across the country this weekend, Mr. Johnson risked drawing outrage, as he urged Britons to “stay away from these protests.”
The demonstrations that have gripped the United States have spilled over to Britain in recent weeks, with thousands rallying on the streets of London and other cities. And the call for an end to racial discrimination has forced soul searching in Britain as the country examines its own history of abuse, colonialism and participation in the slave trade.
The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny. 1/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protestors. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial. 2/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations. 3/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults. To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come. 4/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
As for the planned demonstrations, we all understand the legitimate feelings of outrage at what happened in Minnesota and the legitimate desire to protest against discrimination. 5/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
Whatever progress this country has made in fighting racism – and it has been huge – we all recognise that there is much more work to do. 6/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
But it is clear that the protests have been sadly hijacked by extremists intent on violence. The attacks on the police and indiscriminate acts of violence which we have witnessed over the last week are intolerable and they are abhorrent. 7/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020
The only responsible course of action is to stay away from these protests. 8/8
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 12, 2020