Black Lives Matter protest held in Steyning

The protest was organised by May Langan, who said: “Following days watching the news unfold and learning more about racism in our society, I began asking around to see if a Black Lives Matter protest was going on locally. It wasn’t, and that was a shame to me, for this seemed a necessary and unmissable opportunity to make change happen, even in our small, quiet town.” Within hours of announcing the event, people were getting in touch to offer encouragement and volunteering to help with everything from crowd control and road crossings, to printing flyers and making placards. On Saturday, hundreds of people – from babies to pensioners – took part in the protest, which began at Steyning Memorial Playing Field. May said: “I spoke first about how and why we cannot ignore racism exists, even in our local area today. 10-year-old Maggie Moss spoke next, holding up a document which detailed the ownership of her great, great, great, great grandfather as a slave. She then read ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou. Naomi Hine then read out a letter to Steyning from her mother.” A silent procession was held through the town, which was ‘silent and peaceful’, she said. At Fletchers Croft, local poet Simon Zec shared some words and a poem he had written, before inviting protestors to kneel for eight minutes and 46 seconds to honour George Floyd. May said the event – which involved between 200 and 500 people – was ‘powerful and peaceful’ with attendees careful to social distance, adding: “There were many who voiced afterwards that they found it moving and inspiring.” See pictures from the event, taken by Nicky Allen, below.