The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration has finally secured permission to host a Black Lives Matter march on Saturday, with absolutely no restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend.
Hours after Police Commissioner Tyrone Griffith denied a request for approval for the march from Kensington Oval to Independence Square – and as the movement’s General Secretary David Denny was preparing to challenge that decision in the High Court – Attorney General Dale Marshall overturned the decision.
“We feel very strongly about the right of Barbadians to participate in a peaceful demonstration to express their true feelings of love for their African family; therefore, we were prepared to take the matter to court. But we don’t have to go there anymore and we are happy that the Government of Barbados has come around,” Denny told Barbados TODAY outside the Supreme Court Complex.
In a brief letter on Thursday, Commissioner Griffith informed Denny that based on Section 10 (e) of the Emergency Management (COVID-19) Curfew (No. 6) Directive, he had no authority to grant permission for the march.
That decision prompted a stinging rebuke from Denny who signalled his intention to challenge the Commissioner’s decision in court, along with attorney and activist Lalu Hanuman.
But the Attorney General intervened in the nick of time, informing Denny that an exception would be made and his request to host the march and demonstration would be granted on the condition that demonstrators adhere to a handful of strict protocols to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no limit is being set on the number of persons who can participate in this event. However, the exemption is granted on the following condition: Please note that strict physical distancing, the wearing of masks and the sanitizing of placards and other materials and bullhorns and other devices will be mandatory,” the AG outlined.
Denny is therefore requesting that thousands of Barbadians from all races, classes and religions descend on Kensington Oval on Saturday, clad in all black, to participate in the demonstration.
He explained the change in location was intended to facilitate the necessary physical distancing.
The rally will be part of an ongoing movement that originated in Minnesota, United States, following the death of unarmed African American, George Floyd at the hands of police. Floyd died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes while arresting him on a charge of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store.
The incident prompted protests across North America, the UK and cities across the globe.
When asked to comment on the relevance of Saturday’s march to Barbadians, Denny declared: “We are fighting racism, whether it is in the United States of America, Barbados, or any other country. We are demonstrating against racism and police brutality and these are things that happen in every country. So, we are standing in solidarity with our brothers here in Barbados, in the Caribbean, in Africa, Asia and Europe.
“Our march and demonstration is for white people, Indians, black people, Chinese, and Japanese and anyone who wishes to participate in our march,” the activist added.
The approval of Saturday’s protest follows the shutdown of a similar demonstration last Saturday outside the US Embassy in Wildey. Police explained that the dozens of protesters who turned up contravened the conditions of the permission that allowed just ten demonstrators at a time.
The upcoming protest will conclude with numerous performances and speeches from artistes, Pan-African groups, religious leaders, and social organisations.
Meanwhile, Denny is also calling on Barbadians to wear black as they go about their business on Friday in a show of solidarity.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
