NWN-18062020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 9

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Weekly News

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Campaigners make their voices heard on racism Hundreds brave rain to mar ch through town in support of Black Lives Matter

ourselves. “It is not enough to not be racist, you have to be anti- racist.” Speaking to the protesters, he said: “You are an inspira- tion. You are a beacon of hope in a very dark history of racism.” One of the youngest protesters, 10-year-old Nubia Mhlangha, who attends Spur- croft Primary School in Thatcham, said: “I just wanted to show my support because I don’t think it is very kind to treat people differently because of the colour of their skin. “We should treat everyone the same.” Speaker Isaac Andrade said: “Let me ask you all a question– why are we here protesting today? Why are we risking our health and safety? “It is to get justice for those who have been wronged.” Sinead Hall said that “racism was a disease that had to be eradicated as much as Covid-19”. She added: “We want Newbury and West Berkshire to be a place where people feel included. “There is no room for racism in this town, in our country or in our hearts.” Sarah Viljoen received a huge round of applause for taking a different approach and singing one of her own songs to express her pain instead of giving a speech. Co-organiser Sam Morton said: “It was amazing to see so many people. Thank you so much to everyone who came along in the rain to support this movement.” Fellow organiser Livia Popplewell added: “We never expected so many to turn up. It was incredible.” Organisers encouraged people to maintain social distancing throughout and asked those attending to wear face masks or coverings where possible.

Report by DAN COOPER email dan.cooper@newburynews.co.uk twitter @danc_nwn

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MORE than 500 protesters marched through Newbury on Friday to take a stand against racism and inequal- ity following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapo- lis. People of all ages, many holding banners and placards, turned up in the pouring rain to support the Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained momentum across the world in recent weeks. The passionate protest was organised by 16-year-olds Sam Morton from Newbury and Livia Popplewell from Inkpen. Protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter” as they marched down Northbrook Street before making their way to the Market Place. There, a number of people gave speeches – with some outlining their own first-hand experiences of racism. After the speeches, the Market Place fell silent as the protesters knelt down in the rain in memory of George Floyd, who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. The first to speak was Henry Leaman, who said: “As you can see, quite clearly, I’m white. “I was born white and I will die white and I will never know the privilege I have to not worry about how my skin colour could change the way people treat me. “I don’t pretend to speak on behalf of my black brothers and sisters or anyone, but I will always stand with them in the face of injustice. “I feel sorry for those so ignorant that they believe the colour of someone’s skin is enough to treat them differ- ently.” Concluding, he added: “Racism is a disease that shouldn’t exist. We shouldn’t have to be here protesting this.

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“But we are and we will be here until this disease of racism is eradicated. “Everyone can do something and if you do nothing you are part of the problem. Now is the time to act. This stops here.” In her speech entitled ‘Get comfortable with the uncom- fortable’, Vanessa Viljoen Kadziya, who lives in Hermitage and previously attended Kennet School, said: “Racism is something that has been very close to home for me. “Just growing up in this environment, being in the minority, has been very hard. “My sister was hospitalised due to racial bullying in this very county, yet we still hear that people don’t recognise it as an issue. “Whilst I have been angry and upset about it, we also need to realise that to move forward we need to be respon- sive. “It is important to fight against injustice in the right way.” Ravaldo Boisson, who also attended Kennet School, gave a speech entitled ‘I’m tired’. He said: “We are tired of

being oppressed, we are tired of being racially profiled, we are tired of being arrested, and killed and murdered and we are here to take a stand against that. “We are a movement that is going to change the world and change the course of history.” Another speaker, Ali Connorton, said: “I am half- Indian, half-British. I was not born in this country. “When I was in primary school I used to cry to my grandma wishing I was all white, wanting to scrape the brown off my skin because I was called an immigrant and told that I smelt like curry. “‘Go back to your country’ was a phrase I heard all the time. “As I grew up I started to learn that my culture and heritage is beautiful and it is a part of me.” Steve Masters, a Green Party councillor on both West Berkshire Council and Newbury Town Council, said: “As a white male I stand in soli- darity with my black brothers and sisters. “We need to educate

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