Darlington hosts anti-racism protest on anniversary of George Floyd's death

The killing of Mr Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minnesota on May 25 last year sparked major protests in both the US and the UK.

It also reignited the debate on the use of stop and search by British police, amid concerns people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds were being disproportionately targeted.

In Darlington, a handful of people attended a protest in the Market Square to keep the spotlight on issues of racial inequality and concerns about a new policing bill.

Event organiser, Liam Tuckwood of Stand up to Racism Darlington, said: "It is very important to hold events like these.

"It is in memory of George Floyd, but the theme of this event is 'the UK isn't innocent'."

Mr Tuckwood pointed to the new Police, Crime, Sentencing And Courts Bill which would give police greater powers to shutdown protests and extend stop-and-search powers.

Anti-racism protest in Darlington Market Square Picture: ALEXA FOX

Protesters take the knee in Darlington

He said this will most affect people of colour as they are already more likely to be stopped and searched than white people and it could also be used to crackdown on anti-racism protests.

Mr Tuckwood said: "It is a deeply racist bill.

"It will give the police more powers to stop and search with no justification.

"It will create a class of permanent criminals - we know these extra powers will be used disproportionately against black and Asian people."

Mr Tuckwood said one of the key focuses of the Darlington Stand up to Racism group will be to protect the gypsy and traveller community from discrimination.

He said: "Slurs against gypsies and travellers are the last acceptable form of prejudice against a community.

"It should be recognised that they suffer racism and we need to stand up against it."

Shams Moussa, who moved to Darlington four-years-ago, said he lived in harmony in the town but said anti-racism protests were necessary to continue making progress against inequality.

He said he came from a country where 'people didn't have the privilege' to protest about injustice and it was important that the right wasn't lost in the UK.

He said: "Many individuals in Darlington and across the world are standing up against racism and injustice and that is a great feeling.

"I am glad to see things are progressing in the right direction but let us not stop there, let us not stop until we get there."

Campaigners take the knee in Bishop Auckland Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Alan Docherty, secretary of the Darlington TUC, said the organisation was proud to support the aims of Stand up to Racism.

He said: "It is important that we don't let the pressure off and it is important that we get across the importance of trade unions in fighting for people's rights."

Other protests and demonstrations taking place in the North-East tonight included a prayer vigil in Bishop Auckland town centre.

People gathered in the Market Place and take the knee to remember George Floyd's death, before saying personal prayers around issues of race.

Event organiser David Pott said it was inspired by the famous image of Martin Luther King taking the knee and praying before a civil rights march in 1965.