A member of the Royal Barbados Police Force in talks with protesters gathered at the scene.
What was supposed to be a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest by organisers from The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration outside the United States Embassy yesterday, turned into somewhat of a chaotic scene at intervals, as there was some discrepancy between police and the organisers, about how the event would run.
Spokesperson for the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration (CMPI), David Denny said the protest action, which was supposed to be held just outside the US Embassy’s compound at Wildey, St. Michael from 11 a.m., was designed to be a show of solidarity against “any form of racist action” against African people, indigenous people and minority groups, as the African liberation struggle continues. It was in keeping with the ongoing numerous US-based protests against the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States recently, after Derek Chauvin, a White police officer, reportedly knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes, while he was lying face down handcuffed on the street.
However, even as members of the Royal Barbados Police Force indicated to the media that the protest would soon get started after a few issues were ironed out, the protest action was cut short, as scores of persons turned up despite a shower of rain and lined the opposite end of the street on the sidewalk, bearing placards which read, “Black Lives Matter”, Take Your Knee off My Neck”, “Equal Rights and Justice = Peace” amongst others. Officers indicated that permission was given for just ten individuals to peacefully protest, however the organisers stated that their understanding was that they could interchange persons at intervals. The officers remained adamant that the crowd would have to disperse, if they could not submit ten names of persons that would remain at the location, whilst the others left. This led to a heated exchange, which later saw Denny alleging “police harassment” and decrying any move to stop him and his group from protesting.
“I am not prepared to be moved from here this morning, because that is not the original permission. I have a copy in my phone and I am prepared to share that copy of the letter with the media,” Denny shouted through a bullhorn.
He later noted that he will be writing to the United Nations outlining his grievances with what is taking place in Barbados. Protesters also shouted in solidarity against any move to make them leave, even singing at one point, “We shall not be moved”. Police officers meanwhile worked hard to keep the streets clear, so traffic could flow to and fro.
Ambassador of the United States to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, Her Excellency Linda Taglialatela later issued the following remarks, in relation to the protest.
“Guided by our founding principles of freedom and equality and our Constitutional charge to form a more perfect union, the United States supports free speech and peaceful assembly. We are committed to accountability and the elimination of racial discrimination. We support those who cry out for justice and the transparent judicial process to achieve it” she remarked.
Meanwhile, it has been noted by the Embassy, that there are ongoing investigations at the federal and state levels into the death of George Floyd. On May 29, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr announced a federal civil rights investigation and this week, the Minnesota Attorney General elevated the state’s charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder. The other three officers involved in the arrest of George Floyd have likewise been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, among other charges. (RSM)