Click here for photos from today’s protest
Hundreds of people gathered in Richmond for a Black Lives Protest.
More than 500 anti-racism protesters gathered at the top of the Market Place, while around 100 counter-protesters stood around the obelisk.
The Black Lives Protesters, many holding banners, heard speeches and knelt for nine minutes in tribute to George Floyd, who died at the hands of police in the US.
Throughout the protest, the counter demonstrators shouted abuse at members of the BLM gathering including “scum”, several times calling on the crowd to “come and take back their monument” and made personal insults about the speakers.
Some of the anti-racist group traded insults, although marshals encouraged the crowd not to respond.
As the protest ended and people left the Market Place, two youths threw water bombs at a small number of the counter group at the entrance to King Street.
The pair then ran off down the market place, followed by counter demonstrators and police.
One of the youths was detained by three officers and placed in a police van.
The second youth was not detained immediately.
A small number of counter demonstrators also congregated in the Friary Gardens around the war memorial.
Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons said he was very impressed by the young people, some of whom are at sixth form, who had organised the event.
“They maintained their peaceful protest despite the racist remarks from a bunch of imported idiots who came out with some of the most offensive language possible.
“They should be ashamed for standing on the obelisk and insulting people in such an obscene manner.”
Inspector Mark Gee, from Richmondshire Neighbourhood policing team, said: “Clearly we have seen large numbers into Richmond today.
“We’ve policed this using locals neighbour officers where we’ve had the opportunity to engage with members of the community.
“It’s been a peaceful protest and we thank the public and the community for their cooperation.”
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My wife and I both left the Army in 1993 after nearly forty years service between us and chose to make our home in this lovely location. We are ashamed of the behaviour of the Obelisk ‘ bouncers ‘ who had no right or reason to be there. Their intention was to create disharmony but they went far beyond that with vile and disgraceful language. We suspect that some have never served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and that others were discharged with a blemish on their record. Regardless of the regiments or corps that they may have served in they are unfit to wear the insignia of the same. They do not represent the views of the majority of veterans living in our community. We understand the need for sensitive Policing on such occasions but action should have been swift to prohibit this group from drinking in a public space and threatening and abusive behaviour.