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Boris Johnson Leads Nationwide Clap As Protesters Call To End 'Racial Disparity Within NHS'

Boris Johnson joined in to clap the NHS on its 72nd birthday.
Boris Johnson joined in to clap the NHS on its 72nd birthday.

Boris Johnson has joined people in a nationwide round of applause to mark the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.

Members of the public were encouraged to join in clapping for the NHS at 5pm on Sunday as a gesture of thanks to the staff who have worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

It took place as dozens of protesters gathered in London on Sunday afternoon to call an end of racial disparity in the health system.

The demonstration was organised by the group All Black Lives UK (ABLUK) - which is separate from the main Black Lives Matter movement - who was also responsible for organising the protest in Bristol that led to the statue of Edward Colston being pulled down.

“We are protesting for Black lives and one of the demands we have is to abolish the racial disparity within the NHS, especially towards Black women,” ABLUK spokesperson Tyrek Morris told the crowd.

“We need to implement extensive measures to prevent the disproportionate suffering of Black women in healthcare and bring to an end the significantly increased Black maternal mortality rate.”

The protest, which moved from Marble Arch towards Downing Street, also called for the defunding of the police.

People hold placards, during an All Black Lives UK protest in London.
People hold placards, during an All Black Lives UK protest in London.

Morris said: “Defund the police does not mean abolishing the police. We need police.

“When we say defund the police, we don’t mean abolish the police, we mean take some of that money that you’re putting heavily into Scotland Yard and invest that into the community.

“The lower class systems, but mainly the black community. You take care of the community, you get less crime, you get less violence, you get less poverty.”

The prime minister met with NHS workers in the garden of Number 10 earlier that day, and public buildings including the Royal Albert Hall, Blackpool Tower and the Shard have been lit up blue in tribute to the health service.

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