The protest is not just to draw attention to events in the USA
A demonstration will take place on the Grote Markt in Groningen today, to show solidarity with the victims of racial violence in the United States, but those suffering from discrimination in the EU. The demonstration starts at 18:00 and has been organised by the group BLOG (Black Ladies Of Groningen). According to the organisation, the demonstrators must adhere to social distancing regulations, by staying around 2-metres apart. As reported by the GIC.
The demonstration comes as protests across the USA reach their seventh day. The protests were initially sparked by the extra-judicial killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black American, by a white Minneapolis police officer. The officer (who had a history of racially-aggravated complaints but had faced no disciplinary action), put his knee on the windpipe of Floyd for nine minutes during his arrest. Since then, the protests have evolved to also face down the decades of systemic racism that black Americans have endured- whilst solidarity protests across the world are highlighting that racism exists closer to home than we might think.
Those attending the sit-in are being encouraged to only sit within marked socially-distanced spaces. Attendees must bring both a face mask and hand sanitiser, and the organisers have posted a series of chants to be shouted at the sit-in.
The sit-in is being organised by a number of groups in the city, including the Black Ladies of Groningen, the Groninger Feminist Network, and Women’s March Groningen.
You can find out more about the protest at the Facebook page.
Image via Wikimedia user Daniel Arauz. License here.
