The U.K. chapter of Black Lives Matter have begun a day of protests that has already seen the group block entry to Heathrow, one of the biggest airports in England.
As previously reported, Black Lives Matter U.K. will hold a series of simultaneous rallies titled #Shutdown across England today, August 5. As Buzzfeed reports, the group have blocked traffic outside Heathrow airport. Pictures posted on Twitter by the group show protesters lying in the road close to a roundabout on the M4 motorway under a banner bearing the words “This is a crisis.”
^That's in London. This is Birmingham. #Shutdown (via @MayaAnneEvans) pic.twitter.com/Xe1wJd12qB
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
In Nottingham, BLM have #Shutdown all tram lines in the city centre
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
#Shutdown the whole damn M4. pic.twitter.com/FG48Mlhq18
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
Full #Shutdown in London. Motorway closed. Police have made at least 4 arrests pic.twitter.com/QyA7COd46p
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 5, 2016
The barricade of #blmuk #BlackLivesMatter protestors stopping cars entering Heathrow airport before half arrested pic.twitter.com/ukCj5ZnD2l
— SymeonBrown (@symeonbrown) August 5, 2016
Earlier this week the group posted a video revealing locations for a number of protests to take place across Friday. They include Altab Ali Park in London, Alexandra Park in Manchester, and St. Peter's Gate in Nottingham. The rallies in Manchester and Nottingham will begin at 6 p.m., and London's begins at 6:30 p.m.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as further details emerge.