PROTESTERS stood in silence outside Hove Town Hall in a show of solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Members of Brighton and Hove's Bame (black, Asian and minority ethnic) Labour Party branch organised the event yesterday evening.

A spokesman for the group said members were outraged at the death of George Floyd and invited "anyone who wishes to stand in solidarity” to attend.

He also said it was a silent protest "as a mark of respect" and social distancing rules were observed.

Most people also wore face masks to limit the risk of spreading infection.

The Argus:

During the demonstration, those present knelt and raised clenched fists above their heads.

This has been used as a way to show opposition to police brutality and racism.

The group of about 100 people also held banners carrying messages including "stand up to racism", "Black Lives Matter" and "I can't breathe".

This was a reference to the pleas of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died as a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the floor and knelt on his neck.

His death in America has sparked Black Lives Matter Protests across the world and this was the second event to take place in Brighton and Hove.

The Argus:

A protest on Wednesday saw more than 1,000 people take to the streets and march from St Nicholas Church to the police station in John Street.

They held banners and chanted as they made the journey.

Sussex Police officers knelt before the group in a symbol of support.

There is another protest march planned for June 13, with protesters meeting at Brighton Palace Pier.

Organisers have said they will march through Brighton to expose the “horrible truth of racism still lurking explicitly and subtly in the UK today”.

The Argus:

Campaign group Brighton Black Lives Matter said this date had been chosen “as it correlates to the 13th Amendment that has caused the mass incarceration of black people (and other ethnic groups) in the US”.

This amendment stated that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”.

A spokesman for Brighton Black Lives Matter said: "The fight starts now.

“We may not live in America. We may be able to walk the streets, breathe, look, jog, be in the comfort of our own homes without being killed (the list goes on), but the UK is not innocent.

The Argus:

“This public demonstration will be creating history alongside people globally also responding to the black lives matter movement.

“We will be acknowledging our privileges and supporting those in America who are oppressed more so.

“We will be destroying the facade of Brighton being 'such an accepting community' and presenting the horrible truth of racism still lurking explicitly and subtly in the UK today.”