Organisation All Black Lives Manc is holding a day of action and march

All Black Lives Manc, the Manchester branch of All Black Lives UK, is holding another day of action event, on the 18th October (this coming Sunday).

The event will consist of a 2pm meet-up  in St Peter’s Square where there will be a series of talks, and then at 3pm an organised march will proceed from St Peter’s Square to Piccadilly Gardens.

The day of action will then finish with some more talks and music at Piccadilly Gardens in the same spot as the last protest.

Man pictured: @thak1dcurly Credit: @allblacklivesmanc

The organisers have reassured that they will, “be making sure social distancing is in place and that there are spare masks, hand sanitisers and water for attendees.We’ve also organised for a group of stewards and first aiders just in case!”

The organisers have said they hope “to get an even bigger crowd this time” with the addition of the march to the day of protest.

The march is taking place to advocate a list of demands written by All Black Lives UK, in which they call on the government to make five specific changes.

Credit: @allblacklivesmanc

All Black Lives Manc have said: “Our demands outline ways in which Black people are discriminated against in the UK everyday, and the simple steps we want the government to take to ensure that Black people in this country have just a fair life as any other race.

“This includes medical discrimination, which must be recognised but the Government and NHS, that leads to the higher mortality of Black woman giving birth and many health and mental health issues in Black people being ignored and overlooked.”

The demands aim to also reform the UK’s education system, which All Black Lives Manc have said they feel continues to: “ignore the dark past of the UK’s actions and allow students and teachers to continue to bully and sideline Black students”.

In relation to the justice system, they demand: “the reform of the justice system to end discrimination against Black people – the excessive use of section 60 powers to stop and search which is disproportionately used towards Black communities needs to be ended”.

All Black Lives Manc said: “Civil service jobs in the UK need diversity and inclusion training. In order to offer services fairly and equally to every person within their country, no matter their race, and strides need to be taken to end the systemic racism that plagues the UK. For the government, simple steps such as accepting and implementing the recommendations made by the several commissions we have listed, but the government doesn’t care enough.”

All Black Lives Manc have also issued a call-out for speakers and performers for the event. They have said: “Whether you’re a professional or just want to get up and speak a few words! Speakers, poets, musicians, WHOEVER! Message us and we can give you more details.”

All Black Lives Manc’s events and marches aim to bring more attention to the cause, “but also send a message to the government that we will not be silenced, that this IS a movement and NOT a moment.”

They intend on writing “specific letters to MPs, but for this protest, as with many of our projects during BHM, we are intending to raise awareness for the most part and educate on the struggle of being a Black person in Britain.”

Featured image credited to: @allblacklivesmanc

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