A demonstration in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) is to take place on Douglas Promenade today (Tuesday).

The protest is designed to publicise the global movement, which has hit world headlines following the death of black American George Floyd.

It will start at noon opposite the Villa Marina.

Organisers say protesters should wear masks and gloves and stand two metres apart to comply with Covid-19 lockdown social distancing.

’People are encouraged to isolate for a week afterwards if they feel more comfortable with this,’ said organisers.

BLM was formed in 2013 and aims to ’eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes’.

There have been protests around the world following the recent death of George Floyd, 46, who was arrested for allegedly using a forged $20 note in Minneapolis.

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Footage shows him repeatedly saying ’I can’t breathe’ while a policeman restrains him by kneeling on his neck.

This incident was one of many reasons that has led to the launch of People of Colour Isle of Man (POC Isle of Man).

It has created a Twitter account to highlight the voices of ethnic minority groups in the island and aims to work together to ’make the island a more inclusive space for all’.

The group currently has eight core members of different ethnic backgrounds who have a connection to the island.

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These members include: Jordan Maguire, 27; Joel Padi, 22; Catherine Reid, 22; Elsa Wilkes, 28; Chloe Carmel, 24; Dominique Moran, 25; Daniyel Lowden, 27; and Haafizah Hoosen-Charles, 27, who said she had been subject to racism and Islamophobia while running as a candidate for the Legislative Council earlier this year.

She told the Examiner: ’My race or religion during the election process was not something that should have had to be defended or justified.’

Search @poc_iom on Twitter.

A petition calling for a new approach on tackling racism in the Isle of Man has gained 1,500 signatures.

Created by Philip Plaatjies, it demands for a change in education as well as legislation.

This includes black history being taught in every school; harsher sentences on all hate crimes, racism and xenophobia; having ’white privilege’ studied and more.

For details, search ’A new Isle of Man approach to tackling racism. In the form of Legislation and Education’ on Change.org