MAY I add my congratulations to the many plaudits undoubtedly already received by Brighton Black Lives Matter regarding their huge and peaceful protest.

There seems to be little disagreement in larger society that this time, with the appalling death of George Floyd, a tipping point or “sea change” has been reached. 

As an eloquent lady in his birthplace, Houston, observed:  “People are sick to death of being sick to death.”

Thankfully, Brighton demonstrators have channelled this outrage into expressing the real need for a wider, multi-racial conversation, which will now surely commence in schools and colleges throughout the length and breadth of the land.

These are the proper places for initial discussions about the possible archiving of statues that appear to celebrate the slave trade, for example.

The protesters were wise to avoid being distracted by this secondary issue in Brighton, and to make clear that they have no intention of dishonouring memorials to the Fallen of two world wars and other conflicts.

Their older members will be quite well aware that there are many examples of black and Asian soldiers, sailors and airmen among this number, in any event.

What shone through in Brighton, by contrast with the trouble seen in London over the same weekend, is that whether or not our statues continue to gaze blindly on, protesters and police are becoming ever more conscious of the fact that it is how we treat one another in the here and now, irrespective of ethnicity, that really matters.

Steve Williams

Peacehaven