Police and soldiers in Ghana on Saturday night disrupted a #BlackLivesMatter vigil in honour of George Floyd, the blackman who was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, USA.
The vigil was taking place peacefully in the capital Accra, near the black stars square before police and soldiers stormed there to halt it.
According to the security officials, permission wasn’t given to organizers to hold such a vigil amid a ban on public gathering due to the coronavirus.
But the organizers told Africa Feeds, a letter of notice was given to the police as demanded by law.
The vigil was almost ending before the police came to arrest Ernesto. It was a peaceful gathering of people observing all the protocols.All this wouldn’t have escalated had the police not decided to bring guns & bullying to a vigil#BlackLivesMatter#Accrablackout#freeernesto pic.twitter.com/S8o3FMbXJ3
— #Accrablackout (@afrikanmum) June 6, 2020
Following a disagreement between the organizers and the security officials, the leader of the vigil, Ernesto Yeboah of the group Economic Fighters League was arrested and detained.
Ernesto arrested for leading a protest for George Floyd …
…police brutality must be condemned by all.#BlackLivesMattters #BlackLivesMatter #iamfreedom pic.twitter.com/NQEgKbg4h5
— John Terry Tresh (@JohnTerryTresh) June 6, 2020
Police reportedly fired bullets at the protesters when they marched to the police station where their colleague had been detained.
They chanting and demanding for the release of their colleague.
Anti-racism protests have been taking place across the world following the death of George Floyd as protesters demand at end to police brutalities against blacks.
Outrage on social media
On social media, Ghanaians express anger at the police decision to prevent the young protesters from joining in calling for an end to racism.
CiC Ernesto Yeboah’s kidnapping by the police was illegal and affront to the country. The resistance is on. Make no mistake. The youth are seeing what’s going on and they will rise up.#AccraBlackOut pic.twitter.com/AX2eXUIxXx
— Fighters (@EFLFighters) June 7, 2020
Ghana free speech this, press freedom that, beacon of democracy in Africa but citizens cannot exercise their civil and political rights without @NAkufoAddo sending in the police and the military to arrest and harass citizens. #FreeErnestoNow #AccraBlackOut
— Wunpini F. Mohammed, Ph.D.?? (@wunpini_fm) June 6, 2020
Police and military came to disrupt a peaceful vigil.#Accrablackout#Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/eDLF3aPhro
— #Accrablackout (@afrikanmum) June 6, 2020
Kw3, you don’t ‘seek permission’ from police to protest, you notify. If they want to block the protest they go to court or so, if memory serves me right. Samson has talked about this on Newsfile before. You want give the police that kind of power, abi there will be no dissent.
— nii (@niikotei) June 6, 2020
I’m so embarrassed for these justifying police violence after the week we have had. You people are a disgraceful, cowardly bunch. You’re the reason Ghanaian politicians take us for granted.
— Nana Ama Agyemang Asante (@JustNanaAma) June 6, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
