The teenager whose 'Black Lives Matter' banner on a rural lane on the peninsula sparked controversy, has been sent a letter of support by a leading racial equalities campaigner.

Phanuel Mutumburi, business and operations director at Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equalities (ISCRE), wrote to the 17year-old via Nub News praising her 'integrity and solidarity'.

A minority of people reacted negatively to the banner, which reads 'Black Lives Matter – Today and Always', was hung over a wall on the peninsula, but they in turn were widely condemned for their comments and the teenager praised.

ISCRE members were aware of the comments and supported her stance and her 'very principled and thoughtful explanation as to the reasons why', and invited the 17-year-old and her family to visit their headquarters, once lockdown had finished.

As part of the letter, Mr Mutumburi added: "Like you, I was appalled at the events in the video that showed the slow and painful death of Mr George Floyd. We are also aware that such assaults by police officers against people of African and African American heritage are regular occurrences and we send our support and solidarity to those millions upon millions of all backgrounds in the USA who are peacefully mobilising as a result of Mr Floyd and others' deaths to address their society's intolerance and racism.

"Your support - and that of so many others - is essential to our ongoing work. So, once again: thank you."

The A-level student, while grateful for all the support shown her by individuals and ISCRE the letter, declined to comment further, insisting the focus should remain firmly on the issue and not her.

She attended thee peaceful protest at Christchurch Park over the weekend and will continue to support the anti-racism campaign movement Black Lives Matter.

Many groups like ISCRE, which was formed by concerned local citizens in 1977 to coordinate campaigns against discrimination, hold public and other bodies to account and to promote the enormous advantages that come with diversity and the equal treatment of all to our society, has been have backed the peaceful protests in Suffolk.

Speakers at protests pointed out that of course all lives matter, but this BLM movement is focusing on the systematic racism encountered in America, and other parts of the world including the UK.

The latest wave of protests were sparked when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on the neck of a hand-cuffed George Floyd for nearly nine minutes, resulting in the suspect's death. Chauvin, who was sacked as a police officer, has been charged with second degree murder and remanded in custody on a $1.25million bail.

To learn more about ISCRE, and its sister organisation, the Suffolk Law Centre, go to the ISCRE website.