Across the regions people of all races, age and class are standing together to fight racism
Dismal grey clouds hang low and gloomy in St Albans on Friday evening as more than 1,000 people space out in Verulamium Park. Lightning energy comes in the form of Shelley Hayes, a black mother born and raised in the city, who takes the mic and stands on a plywood table turned makeshift stage.
“George Floyd can’t just be another name. The knee has always been [on] our neck and we can’t breathe. Enough is enough with overt racism, covert racism, the microaggressions every day!” Cheers ripple down the park. A sign reading ‘Treat Racism Like Covid’ bobs high, while Hayes calls for local schools to recruit black governors and for children to be taught a decolonised history. “If you don’t think St Albans has a problem, wake up – we have it massively and we need you allies. We need every race to stand up.”
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