A mural to George Floyd in Minneapolis [Photo: Lorie Shaull]

THE Town Hall is setting up a centre and advice line for young people to get help on how to safely join this weekend’s protests against racial inequality.

Council chiefs are aware that large numbers want to be a part of demonstrations planned for central London in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an American man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes during an arrest in Minnesota.

The incident, which has led to criminal charges for four policemen involved, has sparked protests across the US and beyond.

Earlier in the week the council lit up its offices in King’s Cross with purple lights  in solidarity with campaigners, but councillors want to make sure protesters take on board coronavirus health advice before they join the expected crowds in Parliament Square tomorrow and outside the US embassy on Sunday.

The protests follow events in Trafalgar Square last weekend and in Whitehall and Hyde Park on Wednesday.

Council leader Councillor Georgia Gould said in a Zoom call to the New Journal this evening (Friday): “The first thing is to really just express, again, is our anger and heartbreak at some of the scenes we’re seeing from America, not just what happened to George Floyd, but the response to that.”

“And we know that there’s systemic racism, not just in the US, but in the UK, and in our own community as well.”

Demonstrators heading into central London are due to include friends of Nuno Cardoso, who grew up on the Peckwater Estate in Kentish Town before moving to Oxford to study for a law degree.

He died in police custody three years ago in a case which has been remembered this week amid the protests. Officers involved were cleared of any fault in later investigations.

Cllr Gould said: “We recognise that many young people are really angry, and we totally understand that anger. And we’re trying to create spaces where young people can work with us. And some of the amazing organisations in the borough like Take Back the Power, who are really harnessing and mobilising young people in their activism and their anger because things do need to change.”

She added: “We are reminding young people of public health advice, but we recognise that some young people will want to protest and will choose not to listen to that advice and so we’re trying to put in place support for those young people to do it safely.”

Camden has set up a phoneline for people to call if they want advice on protesting safely over the weekend.

“Somers Town Youth Centre will be open as a drop-in place if young people want to seek help or support,” she said.

“We obviously have to remind young people about the guidelines, but if they are going to go out and protest, and I understand their anger, then we want to help them to do it safely.”

The council’s phoneline for protest and public health advice is: 0207 974 6200