Why the UK should care about Black Lives Matter

Last week saw thousands demonstrate in the United Kingdom

The Black Lives Matter movement has reached the United Kingdom.

Last week, thousands took to the streets of London and Manchester to show solidarity following the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in the United States.

Footage of both fatal shootings was uploaded online and it led to wide condemnation.

In 2016, 518 people in the United States have been killed by police officers, 24% of whom were black – despite the fact that black Americans only account for 13% of the population.

In 2015, black men accounted for 40% of all unarmed people fatally shot by police, making them seven times as likely as unarmed white men to die from police gunfire.

The disproportion is universal over sex, with at least six black women killed by police officers last year; leading to #SayHerName to trend.

More demonstrations are planned in the United Kingdom and across Europe; and it is clear the movement will not stop until these incidents become less frequent.