Express & Star

GALLERY: Small, but powerful message during Walsall Black Lives Matter protest

A small, but vocal group made their voices heard through a protest in honour of George Floyd.

Published
Young and old stood together in protest in Walsall town centre

The latest in a series of Black Lives Matters protests around the Black Country took place in the centre of Walsall with an aim of showing solidarity with people facing police brutality.

Poor weather did not deter the small group of protestors, with around eight people walking up and down Park Street in the town centre with placards and signs.

The protest was organiser by 13-year-old Nadia Khanom, a pupil at Bluecoat Academy, who said she organised the protest to say that everyone should be equal.

She said: "What I'd like to see happen from today is to show to people who are facing black brutality that we support them and to show that we are all the same people.

"While it isn't as bad here, people are saying that all lives matter and what they should be saying is all life matters, because people are dying from racism and that's not a good thing."

Nadia was joined at the protest by her mother Shapz and brothers 11-year-old Ryhan and eight-year-old Emon and also received support from the West Midlands branch of the Stop the War Coalition and by Stand up to Racism.

Mark Ingram, an activist for Stand up to Racism, said it meant a great deal for him to be part of the protest as he said he was passionate about standing up to racism.

The 59-year-old said: "When I heard about these young people setting up this initiative today, I was absolutely delighted and was determined to take part and support them in any way I could.

"I think the more of these demonstrations and protests we have, the better chance of those in power listening."

Stuart Richardson, secretary of Stop the War Coalition, praised Nadia for putting on the event and said it was very much a youth movement.

The 70-year-old said: "It's amazing to see someone put on something like this at such a young age.

"It follows on from last week in London, where there was very few people over the age of 25 involved, so it's great to see so many young people making a stand."