Organisers
had been granted permission for 50 people to take part in the Black Lives
Matter rally – in line with virus restrictions.
At least
1,000 people flouted coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings on Thursday
in the southern Swedish city of Malmo to protest the recent death of
African-American man George Floyd at the hands of U.S. Police, as well as
racism elsewhere.
Since far
more participants attended, police declared the gathering a breach of the
permit and urged the protesters to disperse.
Police said
it took well over an hour before the crowd started to leave the beach and
recreational area at Ribersborg, a few kilometres from the city centre.
Most of the
crowd headed to the city centre, chanting slogans and carrying placards like
“No racists on our streets,” the Kvallsposten daily reported.
On Wednesday,
several thousand took part in a similar protest in the capital, Stockholm.
Prime
Minister Stefan Lofven earlier Thursday warned against the risk of COVID-19
infection linked to large crowds even though he said he understood the anger
against racism.
“We all have
an obligation to consider: ‘Is this the right thing to do at present?,”he
said at a news conference.
Home Affairs
Minister Mikael Damberg also urged protesters to opt for online protests,
saying: “otherwise many people risk becoming sick and dying.”
Police have
said they cannot ban the protests in advance given that “the right to
demonstrate is a strong right in society.
At the same
time, the police must ensure that participants follow the rules,” national
police chief Anders Thornberg said.
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