SCORES of people opposed to racism gathered in Southampton this evening to mark the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

Residents responded to a call by Southampton Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and other groups to remember Mr Floyd at Take the Knee, a one-hour event held in Guildhall Square.

They listened to speakers from SUTR and other organisations and then took the knee as a list of people who have died in police custody was read out.

Speakers included Cllr Satvir Kaur, the new leader of the Labour group on Southampton City Council.

Referring to the events of May 25 last year Cllr Kaur said Mr Floyd, "was killed at the hands of people who were paid to protect and serve".

She added: "Racism is still dividing our communities.

"I've been sworn at, I've been spat at, I've had a hammer waved in my face and I've been told to go back home, when the only home I've ever known is here in this city.

"Diversity has made Southampton what it is today - a place with a really bright future.

"But our fight is not over. I pledge to keep up that fight and I hope you all do too."

SUTR spokesperson Manthan Pathak added: "We've been brought together by the horrific murder that took place on this very day last year.

"We have come here to reflect on what has happened and what needs to happen. We are here to demand that action is taken."

Mr Floyd's death sparked global protests by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

He was murdered by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Mr Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes while he was handcuffed face down in the street. Mr Floyd repeatedly called out: "I can't breathe."

Following his death activists staged demonstrations against the excessive use of force by police officers detaining black suspects.

Last month, Chauvin, 45, was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. He is due to be sentenced within the next two months.

People attending the rally listened to speakers from BLM Southampton, SUTR, Black History Month South and the Labour Party.

A SUTR spokesman said: "The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer a year ago sparked a historic wave of global protests and a massive upsurge in the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Without that movement, Derek Chauvin would likely have never appeared in court, and George Floyd’s family would never have obtained justice.

"But structural racism and police violence is far from over.

"In Britain, Black people are nine times more likely to face stop and search than white people.

"The Covid-19 crisis has disproportionately affected BAME communities in a huge way medically and economically, with thousands of preventable deaths and hundreds of thousands more forced into poverty."

"Most shamefully, there is the endless list of deaths in police custody – where no British police officer has ever faced prosecution."