A small peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration is being held at Rickmansworth Park this weekend.

Around ten organisers have been working together for a small “family friendly” demonstration on Saturday (June 20) to support the global Black Lives Matter movement.

Attendees are asked to meet between 2 to 4pm at Park Road by Rickmansworth Park, behind the Waitrose.

Anyone attending is asked to wear masks and maintain social distance during the event.

Dee, one of the organisers explained it was important to start a conversation and help people understand the movement in what is admittedly a “predominantly white area”.

She asked for those who may not understand what issues black people in the UK face to not disregard it, but instead hear out why these issues exist.

She said: “We want to reaffirm that this is a long-term movement, it’s not just a hashtag. And you do not have to be part of a specific group to have to support us.

“This demonstration is about inviting people to learn and contribute to it, so that people can go away and have the conversations needed.

“I’m not saying change is going to happen overnight, but the sheer fact that people are putting their own oppressions aside – as other oppressions haven’t stopped – to help this cause, it’s become a whole different level.

“We just want to make everyone feel valued, we’re doing this because we love Rickmansworth, this isn’t to make people feel guilty – it’s just to talk about our issues in a group for people to respect and see our views.”

Watford Observer:

Groups gathered at Cassiobury Park for another protest (Photo: Joseph Reaidi)

The organisers have explained that this will be a static event at the park, making it easier to enforce social distancing and ask anyone to keep their distance if there are any concerns.

Dee said: “people have to understand it is a collective responsibility, but we will be in a big park and wide space.”

She explained that if large groups attend together, they will be asked to disperse themselves.

The organisers have talked to other groups including the Watford Alliance, who put together the march to Cassiobury Park on June 6, and the people who organised a protest near Amersham and Chesham.

Tahlia, another person in charge of the Rickmansworth Black Lives Matter protest, said she talked with the Watford Alliance to see what advice they’d share and what they would have done differently, to assure the protest is handled as safely as possible.

The group hope that those who were unable to attend the Watford protest due to the massive crowd, may feel more comfortable at the Rickmansworth demonstration.

For more information, people can follow @blacklivesmatter_WD3 on Instagram or join in on the discussions at the WD3 Unity Facebook group.