Black Lives Matter: Chatham march organiser says there is 'little awareness of racism in Medway'
14:34, 09 June 2020
updated: 09:17, 10 June 2020
The organiser of a Black Lives Matter protest has said there isn't enough awareness of racism and oppression of black people in Medway.
Mikayla Adigun, 19, arranged the Medway March for Justice, which is taking place tomorrow, with her friends Toju Adelaja, 19, and Elizabeth Bernasko, 20. They are all from Rochester.
She thinks it's important the BLM movement continues and doesn't become "a phase" and claimed the UK is far from innocent when dealing with the problem of racism.
Mikayla said: "There had been little exposure and awareness concerning racism and oppression of black people within Medway.
"It is imperative those who stand against injustice stand and unite so effective change can be made.
"When people come together, these protests allow members of the public to voice their frustration and also make room for healing.
"We gather to demonstrate our global solidarity against the struggles people of African and Caribbean descent face, as well as the injustices of government-sanctioned police violence and brutality in America and all over the world.
"The UK is far from innocent – we also gather to support Belly Mujina and Shukri Abdi.
"This should not be a phase that will die out in the next month or so but an active drive towards the liberation of the oppressed.
"We must not be distracted by the shouting, the pictures, the signs and banners; we must continue to donate to causes committed to forwarding the BLM movement, to sign petitions and email those in positions of power to implement the change we are trying to create."
Mikayla helped organise the march, which is due to take place from 2pm at Chatham library.
It is the third large event in Medway, following two protests at Jacksons Field, Rochester, last Friday and Saturday, where more than 100 people joined and marched to Chatham.
The protest in Rochester was organised by Chatham resident Mikey Ragga Bousquet who contacted friend Steve Wilkins, the secretary of Medway Stand Up To Racism, to organise the protest with the help of the Medway Trade Union Council.
They had originally expected around 20 people but were stunned to see more than 100 join them on the hillside.
Demonstrations have taken place around the world this week in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, America, on May 25.
