The project began as a record of London’s involvement with the ongoing global anti-racism movement, sparked by the unlawful killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by a white police officer during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Following this unforgettable event, a widely supported movement of international anti-racism demonstrations spread, striking a chord with populations during a global pandemic. The protests seeking justice for the unlawful killing heightened the debates surrounding systematic historical racism in the U.S.A and Europe. Sussex documented the anti-racism demonstrations in central London throughout the year, commencing on the 31st May 2020. One of the pivotal demonstrations was later referred to online as the “Battle of Trafalgar Square”. This eventful day saw anti-racism demonstrators clash with groups of British Nationalists who sought to protect historical statues and war memorials from damage. This project questions what it means to be British today and how we view our past alongside contentious identity issues in modern society. Sussex stayed in contact and developed conversations with various passionate anti-racism demonstrators. These further portraits and the subsequent dialogue reflect on the historical events of 2020 and the reality of seeking to bring about systematic change.
