Thousands Gather In Trafalgar Square For Black Lives Matter Protest
Thousands of protestors have gathered in Trafalgar Square for a Black Lives Matter protest following action across the US in the wake of the death of Black man George Floyd, who was killed by police.
Crowds arrived in central London shortly before 1pm on Sunday, with many carrying signs calling for ‘Justice for George Floyd’ and chants of ‘no justice, no peace’ and ‘I can’t breathe’.
After meeting at the iconic spot, attendees took the knee in solidarity with protestors in the US before beginning to march through central London.
The protest follows a demonstration held in Peckham on Saturday, which saw dozens of protestors take to the streets.
Other protest events have also been planned, with gatherings in Hyde Park and Parliament Square organised for the coming week, drawing attention not only to actions in the US, but also racism in the UK.
Anti-racism protests in the US have been met with violence in recent days, with thousands of protestors gathering across more than a dozen cities.
Police have been filmed aggressively cracking down on activists, with videos circulating online of officers firing tear gas into crowds, pushing attendees, firing rubber and paint bullets and driving into groups.
There have been widespread reports of looting, with some businesses burnt to the crowd by protestors.
As well as speaking out more widely about racism, and ongoing instances of police using excessive force against Black people, protestors are also calling for all four of the former officers who had taken Floyd, 46, into custody to be charged with his murder.
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck until he lost consciousness during his arrest, has been taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The other three former police officers have been fired from the force, but there are calls for them to face more serious legal action.