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Thousands of anti-racism protestors are set to attend demonstrations across the UK this weekend – despite government warnings that such mass gatherings are banned under the coronavirus lockdown.
Rallies will be held in cities including London, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Leicester with supporters demanding an end to institutional discrimination.
It comes as worldwide anger continued to grow over the death of George Floyd , a black father-of-one in the US city of Minneapolis last week.
The 46-year-old died after a white police officer pressed a knee onto his neck for nine minutes – despite the former bouncer being unarmed and not appearing to resist arrest.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with murder.
Although Black Lives Matter protests have already been held in London and Birmingham this week, the weekend gatherings are expected to be the biggest yet.
In the capital, attendees will converge on Parliament Square on Saturday and then at the US Embassy on Sunday.
But ministers say that, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, such mass rallies will not only be unlawful but a risk to public health
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UKShow all 79 1 /79Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest at Parliament Square in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Girls hold placards in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protests at Parliament Square in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest march in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
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Speaking at the daily Downing Street press briefing on Friday evening, health secretary Matt Hancock said he was "appalled" by the death of Mr Floyd but stressed that coronavirus rules remained in place.
"I understand why people are deeply upset but we are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat,” he said.
"The reason that it is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease.
"So please, for the safety of your loved ones, do not attend large gatherings including demonstrations of more than six people."
His comments were echoed by home secretary Priti Patel who posted on Twitter that people should not gather in groups larger than six.
She added: "Please for the safety of all of us, do not attend large gatherings – including protests – of more than six people this weekend…
“Coronavirus remains a real threat and people must protect themselves and their families from this horrific disease."
In the US, protests are now entering their second weekend with police there accused of widespread brutality against demonstrators.
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