IT has been announced that the Black Lives Matter Peaceful Protest, which was due to be held in Crediton on Saturday, June 20, has been postponed.

Details of the postponement were published on social media site Facebook, this afternoon, Thursday, June 18.

Event organiser Mia Dendy wrote: “Hi everyone.

“Regrettably we are having to postpone the event. Unfortunately we are not able to use Newcombes Meadow at this time, and have not yet found a suitable location.

“We will continue to explore our options and hope that in the near future we can hold an event to show our support for Black Lives Matter.

“However, if you would like to show your support, here are a few options:

• You can join the BLM Exeter Facebook group, called “Exeter BLM Movement”

• Sign petitions, donate money, read, research, listen to podcasts, keep learning

• Attend other local protests: we will put info in this event page on any other events taking place

• Make signs and banners and take photos and post in our event page to show your support!

“Thank you so much for your support, we will keep you as up-to-date as we can on progress, and hopefully we can hold an event soon.”

It had been hoped to hold the event in Newcombes Meadow, the Crediton park owned and managed by Mid Devon District Council, from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday.

The event was being organised by Mia Dendy, Madeleine Greenhalgh, Rachel Dendy and Maia Thomas.

Previous discussion on social media about a proposed event resulted in support as well as some adverse comments.

ABOUT BLM

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international human rights movement, originating from within the African-American community, which campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.

BLM regularly holds protests speaking out against police brutality and police killings of black people, and broader issues such as racial profiling, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.

In 2013, the movement began with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

The movement became nationally recognised for street demonstrations following the 2014 deaths of two African Americans: Michael Brown - resulting in protests and unrest in Ferguson, a city near St Louis and Eric Garner in New York City.

Since the Ferguson protests, participants in the movement have demonstrated against the deaths of numerous other African Americans by police actions and/or while in police custody in the United States.

In the summer of 2015, Black Lives Matter activists became involved in the 2016 United States presidential election.

The originators of the hashtag and call to action, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, expanded their project into a national network of more than 30 local chapters between 2014 and 2016.

The overall Black Lives Matter movement, however, is a decentralised network and has no formal hierarchy.

GEORGE FLOYD

The movement returned to national headlines and gained further international attention during the global George Floyd protests on May 26 this year, following Floyd’s death by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the day before. A police officer was film recorded with his knee on George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

George Floyd struggled, pleaded for his life saying: “I can’t breathe,” until he drew his final breaths after calling for his mother.

A number of protests and campaigns about his death have been held in countries around the world, including many protests in the UK.

A number of statues of figures in history have been removed in the UK and overseas after claims that the people they honoured were involved in racism or slavery.

Organiser of the Crediton event, Mia Dendy previously said on the Facebook page: "We only want this to be a peaceful event, and a positive space for us to show our support for the BLM movement."

Just a few weeks ago, the St Boniface statue in Newcombes Meadow was damaged with graffiti of a religious nature.

In addition, bonfires have been lit in the park and Winfrith’s Well was also damaged.

For further updates, follow Crediton BLM Peaceful Protest on Facebook.