All Black Lives Manchester hold #EndSARS protest in solidarity with Nigeria

‘We will not forget’


Last Thursday, an #EndSARS protest took place in Piccadilly Gardens, run by the Manchester branch of anti-racism organisation All Black Lives UK. The event was held in solidarity with Nigeria, following reports from witnesses saying a number of people were shot dead or wounded at a similar peaceful protest in Lagos.

Protesters prayed and lit candles in remembrance of the victims, and assembled in the centre, chanting: “Black lives matter. Nigerian lives matter. We will not forget”. 

These protests are part of a wider movement calling for an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a department within the Nigerian police force with allegations of police brutality. Whilst supporters say it was an initial success, over the years there have been numerous reports of allegations against SARS, and earlier this year, Amnesty International released a report which documented 82 cases of alleged torture, ill-treatment, and extra-judicial execution by SARS between January 2017 and May of this year.

Speaking to The Manchester Tab, the organisation, All Black Lives Manc, said: “We attended to show our solidarity with the anti-SARS protesters in Nigeria, who demand an end to state oppression. We were also grateful for the opportunity to stand in remembrance of the victims of the Lekki Toll tragedy, and will not stop calling for justice.”

ABL Manc also added that they “do not condone the use of sanctions against the Nigerian government, as this harms the people in Nigeria.

“We stand with protesters on the street using civil disobedience to push action from within Nigeria.”

For more updates and to find out about upcoming protests, follow @allblacklivesmanc on Instagram.

Featured image: @allblacklivesmanc

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