Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in the US in one of the largest days of protest since George Floyd was killed in police custody.
The largest demonstration was in Washington DC where thousands marched to demand action from President Donald Trump on institutional racism.
There were noticeably less police on the streets and the atmosphere was calmer than earlier in the week; however, the White House was surrounded by heavily armed military personnel.
President Trump claimed the massive crowds were ‘much smaller than anticipated.’
Demonstrators protest as US security personnel stand on the White House roof in Washington, 06-06-2020. Image: AP Photo/Maya AlleruzzoMr Floyd died after police officer Derek Chauvin held him down for nearly nine minutes with a knee to the neck in Minnesota.
Video of the incident shows the unarmed 46-year-old repeatedly telling the policeman “I can’t breathe” before losing consciousness.
A second memorial service was held in his honour at his birthplace of Raeford, North Carolina yesterday.
Hundreds lined up to pay their respects ahead of a private family service later in the day and his funeral on Tuesday in Houston.
A demonstrator holds up an American flag with names of slain black Americans on it near the White House in Washington DC, 07-06-2020. Image: Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Press Association ImagesIn New York, thousands joined marches across the Brooklyn Bridge into lower Manhattan and form Harlem into Washington Square Park.
There were also large gatherings in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In Louisville, Kentucky, hundreds of people joined a vigil for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot and killed by police in her home nearly three months ago.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people turned-out at a solidarity protest outside the US Embassy in Dublin.
Protesters place placards on the fence outside the US Embassy in Dublin, 06-06-2020. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews— Stephen Bourke (@AnBurcach) June 6, 2020
The demo's been breaking up in the last half an hour -- protesters have left their signs in the railings almost all the way around the US embassy. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/weApdsaSzf
— Stephen Bourke (@AnBurcach) June 6, 2020
In London, police said 14 people were arrested after a largely peaceful protest outside Downing Street turned violent yesterday evening.
Authorities said some people started throwing bottles at police towards the end of the protest and 14 officers were injured.
During the confusion, one police officer on horseback rode into a traffic light. She remains in hospital in a non-life- threatening condition.
In France, large crowds gathered in Paris and Marseille.
