Black Lives Matter: Silent march through Andover

Stand Together Andover held the rally, which was followed by a speaking session in Vigo Road recreation ground, to keep the pressure up, a year on from the shocking events in Minneapolis.

Mr Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin last May, sparking worldwide protests against racial inequality.

This included in Andover, where a silent march was held.

Speaking to the Advertiser, organiser Katie Garwood said: "We set out to make change. For a movement it is all very well and good marching and protesting but you need to make change.

"There has been change nationwide in terms of statues removed, more empowerment and people switching on their lights.

Black Lives Matter silent march through Andover on Saturday.

"We wanted to keep the pressure on schools and reach out to more schools. We want to reach out to Kit Malthouse and for him to understand the importance.

"We want to do more events including some events that incorporate black music."

The conversation around racial injustice are nothing new and have been ongoing for several years, but the viral video of Mr Floyd's death still sticks in the public rhetoric today.

Several gestures, including sportspeople taking a knee before the start of events, are still ongoing, and an inquiry into the lived experience of people from BAME enquiries launched by Basingstoke MP Maria Miller released its results.

Recounting her campaign's own successes, Katie, who set up Stand Together Andover alongside Lydia Graham, said: "We have got people speaking more in Andover, we have got the black curriculum on board with John Hanson school.

Black Lives Matter silent march through Andover on Saturday.

"We have approached 25 schools and only John Hanson are the only one that wanted us on board.

"As much as I would love the curriculum completed changed , we don't have the power to do that."

After the march, which took the group through George Yard, past the Guildhall, through the Town Mills riverside park, round the back of the Chantry Centre and back to Vigo Road recreation ground, several people took turns to speak about their experiences.

Among these was Ludwig Ramsey, the first black firefighter in Hampshire back in 1988, who spoke about the importance of continuing to challenge casual racism.

Kerrie Morley, who his 49 and from Andover, also spoke out about her experience after she decided to visit the refugee camp in Calais in 2015 to give donations to refugees.

She said that the refugee crisis is borne out of racism, adding: "It is fear of outsiders, people who are different to us.

"[The experience] has completely changed me.

"It was amazing but horrendous. You would see police brutality and children on their own.

Black Lives Matter silent march through Andover on Saturday.

"At night it could be a bit scary. I have not experienced anything like it.

"From that day I joined these refugee networks on Facebook," she continued, saying she speaks to refugees every day."