Piers Morgan slams ‘disgusting scenes’ as thugs charge at riot police in violent clashes in London
PIERS Morgan has lashed out at the "disgusting" thugs clashing with riot cops in London today.
The Good Morning Britain presenter said it was "shameful" that protesters "protecting" the Cenotaph were hurling fireworks and glass bottles at police.
Piers, 55, tweeted: "Disgusting scenes in Westminster. Police & journalists being attacked by right-wing thugs.
"Shameful."
Violent clashes have been raging in central London today, with glass bottles, a flare and cans being hurled at the line of helmeted officers by protesters.
The protesters were also seen throwing punches at the police amid ugly scenes in Trafalgar Square.
Hundreds of demonstrators and veterans had gathered in the capital to "protect" the Cenotaph and statue of Winston Churchill as a Black Lives Matter organiser urged activists to stay away.
Paul Golding, the leader of far-group group Britain First, was pictured in the crowd wearing a 'White Lives Matter' T shirt.
It comes after statues in Parliament Square including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were boarded up to prevent them being targeted by either side.
Piers has been vocal of his support of the Black Lives Matter movement - but said it was "insane" for thousands of people to break social distancing rules by protesting.
He tweeted last week: "I fully support the peaceful #GeorgeFloyd protest in Hyde Park right now.
"But the total absence of any social distancing by the 1000s of people protesting is insane."
He later urged followers not to let "celebrity virtue-signalling" overshadow why demonstrations have been happening all around the world.
The journalist posted: "Memo to the world: don’t let insane political correctness & absurd celebrity virtue-signalling destroy the very real & very powerful movement for an end to racial inequality & injustice since George Floyd’s murder.
"Or nothing will change."
Black Lives Matter gained fresh traction this month after the horrific death of George Floyd.
George, a 46-year-old black father, died after white cop Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes during a brutal arrest in Minneapolis on May 25.
Last week, Piers clashed with a lawyer defending one of the police officers accused of aiding in George's murder stormed out of the interview.
He grilled lawyer Earl Gray, who is defending Minnesota police officer Thomas Lane after he was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.