The archbishop of York has said he would join protests over the death of George Floyd, but condemned any use of violence.

John Sentamu, the most senior black leader in the Church of England, spoke candidly about the anti-racism protests that have been springing up across America and the world in light of the death of the African-American man George Floyd last Monday.

Asked if he would join the protests, he said: “I certainly would want to join. But at the moment it turns to violence. I wouldn’t be there because I don’t believe violence is the same as going out and protesting.

“People should have the right to protest but not use violence, because I’m afraid you can end up in trouble and arrested.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday, Sentamu - who retires from his post on Sunday - was also critical of Donald Trump’s threat to use troops against protesters in US cities.

He said: “People sometimes think that because you’ve got the power and the authority, you can abuse that authority. Martin Luther King said violence causes as many problems as it solves. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

“The problem is America has not been listening to the real problems of African Americans and any people of colour. It has not dealt with this endemic brutality that some people experience from people in uniform."

Although Sentamu condemned violence from protesters and authorities, he said people who had watched the video of a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck were “saying enough is enough”.

“Many in moments of anger, in moments of deep bitterness, engage in riots,” he said.

He said that governments must “listen to the voices of those who are really telling it as it is. Isn’t it shocking that people who have died in large numbers of Covid-19 come from mainly minority groups? We ought to be holding a mirror to ourselves.”

He added: “I believe that in this country some strides have been made but it needs to be consistent all the time. If we deny someone's right and we're not careful - as Mandela said - they can easily become an outlaw.

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"I want to plead with my brothers and sisters that what is called for is restorative justice and a place where truth, justice, mercy, peace meet.”

He suggested people put a light in their windows to show solidarity over Floyd’s death.

Sentamu, who came to the UK from Uganda in 1974, is retiring after 15 years as archbishop of York. He will be succeeded by Stephen Cottrell, the bishop of Chelmsford.

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