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Black Lives Matter unveils billboard of victims near Parliament

THOUSANDS of victims of state and racist violence were unveiled on a billboard near Parliament by Black Lives Matter campaigners today.

The 3,000 victims include those who have died in police custody, prisons, immigration detention centres and from racist attacks.

They also include the names of those who have died from Covid-19, including transport worker Belly Mujinga, to demonstrate the extent of structural racism in Britain.

Other names include Mark Duggan, Sean Rigg, Shukri Abdi, Joy Gardner, Sarah Reed, Rubel Ahmed, Yvonne Ruddock, Luke Alexander Loy, Kayla Williams, Jimmy Mubenga and Stephen Lawrence.

A Black Lives Matter statement said: “This billboard is a tragic reminder of the violence and neglect caused by state violence; but the communities affected are saying No.

“We will say the names of those we have lost, but make demands for change to ensure they did not die in vain.

“There is a crisis in our police, prison and immigration systems. These are inherently violent institutions that are beyond reform.

“There is a crisis in housing, schools, health care, social care and transport. Now is the time to defund the police and invest in our communities.

“End the gang matrix. End stop and search. End Prevent. End the hostile environment. Invest in the wellbeing and safety of our communities.”

The action was co-ordinated with United Families and Friends Campaign, Justice for Belly, Justice for Shukri, Migrants Organise and the Grenfell Estate.

A statement from Grenfell Estate, on behalf of the victims of the tower blaze whose names were also included on the billboard, said: “Let the punishment fit the crime — prosecutions for those responsible.”

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