Black Lives Matter protesters in Highgate and Crouch End kneel in anger over anti-Black racism

The Highgate Black Lives Matter protest. Picture: Carlo Polisano (Image: Archant)

In Pond Square, at 1pm a vigil organised by a local woman saw a wide cross-section of the community come out to stand – and kneel with victims of anti-Black racism.

While in Crouch End at the same time the green in front of Hornsey Town Hall saw campaigners on one knee for eight minutes and 43 seconds – the length of time a Minnesota police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd before he died last week.

Those taking part included members of the community and local councillors.

'White silence is violence': Placards at the Black Lives Matter event in Crouch End. Picture: Lucie Goodayle (Image: @ Lucie Goodayle)

Cllr Adam Jogee (Lab, Hornsey) said afterwards: “The peaceful protest outside Hornsey Town Hall was a chance for our community to demonstrate our commitment to the universal truth: Black Lives Matter.

“It was good to see so many local people safely registering their anger and reconfirming our collective commitment to equality.”

READ MORE – ‘SHE IS A MARTYR’: 25 YEARS ON, JOY GARDNER’S MOTHERIS STILL FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AFTER DEATH IN CUSTODYOn Twitter Cllr Julia Ogiehor said: “I have so much to say but still not sure how best to articulate. Today, I stopped crying and went to kneel for 8.46mins.”

Crouch Enders kneel in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters in front of Hornsey Town Hall. PIcture: Cllr Adam Jogee (Image: Archant)

The woman who organised the Highgate protest did not want to give her name. She said: “My original intention had been just to go up to Highgate Village with some flyers I had made and try to amplify and share Black voices.

“I specifically wanted to do it in Highgate Village – a majority white area that’s very privileged. I shared it with a couple of friends and it was one of those things that just spiralled.”

“I wanted to try and find a safe way to make a stand.”

Cllr Julia Ogiehor at the Black Lives Matter protest in Crouch End. Picture: Lucie Goodayle (Image: @ Lucie Goodayle)

READ MORE – BLACK LIVES MATTER: CAMDEN COUNCIL GOES PURPLE IN SOLIDARITY WITH GLOBAL PROTESTERSHighate mum Roni Collins attended with her daughter Charlotte, 13. She said: “They felt strongly about what’s been happening and they wanted to show their support. This was their first protest, and the silence around the square was quite moving as the knelt.”

Another, quieter, protest took place in Highgate Wood. Yolanda Perez-Rosselson attended, and told this newspaper it had been “a group of neighbours coming together to show support”.

There are plans, yet to be confirmed, for a second protest in Highgate, while other demonstrations continue in central London.

A crowd of protestors kneel in Highgate. Picture: Roni Collins (Image: Archant)

A small protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Highgate Wood. Picture: Yolanda Perez-Rosselson (Image: Archant)

Teenagers Charlotte Collins and Darcy Parfitt kneel at Highate's Black Lives Matter protest. Picture: Roni Collins (Image: Archant)

A protester with a young baby at the Crouch End Black Lives Matter protest. Picture: Lucie Goodayle (Image: @ Lucie Goodayle)

A woman kneels in Pond Square, Highgate to protest against anti-Black racism and violence. Picture: Carlo Polisano (Image: Archant)

Protesters knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Crouch End in solidarity with victims of racist violence like George Floyd. Picture: Lucie Goodayle (Image: @ Lucie Goodayle)