Hundreds make their voices heard at Kettering's Black Lives Matter protest

"No justice, no peace. Black lives matter."

Hundreds made their voices heard at Kettering's Meadow Road park this afternoon (Friday) at an anti-racism protest.

People of all ages and races picked a spot to fill the park holding placards as part of a series of protests after the death of George Floyd in America.

With police watching on, and with social distancing observed impeccably, the protest saw speeches and chanting before ending with everybody taking the knee in silence.

One of those in attendance was Kim Chamberlain, who held a placard that read: "I will never understand completely...but I stand with you".

Kim said: "There's no need for it (racism). This is 2020. Change needs to happen."

A number of protests around the country saw violent flare-ups, but there was no sign of trouble in Meadow Road.

Athlete Will Sharman's mum Denise was at the front, making her voice heard and dancing to music.

She said: "God loves us and we need to love each other. We are one big rainbow."

The brother and sister duo of Hugh and Sophia McManus held placards as they came out to join the protest.

Sophia: "It just makes me feel so sad but I think this has been a wake up call for everyone.

"Racism is so much worse than we realise."

As the rain stayed away, the protest saw passionate speeches from people who had experienced racism.

One person who gave a speech said: "We are too woke to just let people continue to harass us for being black."

After the event as people dispersed one of the organisers, Kettering Buccleuch Academy sixth former Mia Rose, said she couldn't believe how many people had turned up.

She said: "Seeing so many people turn up is just incredible. It just goes to show how much this means to people in Kettering and beyond.

"I am a bit lost for words."