A Black Lives Matter supporter who carried an injured man to safety during violent clashes in London has told Sky News he “didn’t want to see him die”.
Patrick Hutchinson draped the rival protester over his shoulder after he was allegedly attacked near Waterloo station.
An extraordinary image of what happened went viral around the world – with Mr Hutchinson’s actions receiving praise.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Hutchinson said he was “concerned” for the man’s life and “scooped” him up before carrying him to safety.
He said: “I really feel that if we hadn’t intervened when we did, I genuinely think he may have died.
“I didn’t do it for him per se. I didn’t want to see him perish or die but I really did it for the young men and women of BLM.
“I didn’t want their names tarnished with such an incident.”
Mr Hutchinson said he was not actually marching or demonstrating at the protests, but providing security to protect people.
He said: “We have a platform at the moment, we’re being listened to and I didn’t want the narrative to change to something ugly or negative.”
Mr Hutchinson said the killing of George Floyd in the US, where officers stood by as a police officer knelt on his neck until he lost consciousness and died, prompted him to help the man because “we’re different”.
“Hopefully people will remember it but ultimately we hope it’s going to be some catalyst to change and overall equality,” he said.
“If the three police officers that stood by and watched had done what we have done, he would still be here today.
“When I saw that my heart bled and I thought we’re different, we’re not like that. Humanity first.”
‘Thuggery and violence unacceptable’
A total of 113 people were arrested during a day of unrest in central London, which was condemned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as “racist thuggery”.
At least 23 police officers were injured during the violent clashes, which involved several hundred anti-racism protesters and rival demonstrators.
As Black Lives Matter supporters gathered in Hyde Park, a crowd of people – some of them far-right activists – gathered in Parliament Square, where they were claiming to protect statues.
Some were accused of “thoroughly unacceptable thuggery” after they threw bottles and cans at police officers.
