‘Your Pain Is My Pain’: global anti-racism protests rage
10543 Mins Read
Protesters around the world took to the streets again on Friday, despite coronavirus warnings, in a wave of outrage at the death of African American George Floyd in the United States and racism against minorities in their own nations.
Floyd’s death, after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck while detaining him, has convulsed the United States.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks after announcing that she is renaming a section of 16th street ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’ in Washington, DC, USA, 05 June 2020. The street is across from the White House and is the location of seven days of protests in DC over the death of George Floyd. Earlier in the day, with permission from the city, volunteers painted the words ‘Black Lives Matter’ in giant letters on the street. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO
The largest demonstrations elsewhere on Friday appeared to be in Germany, where more than 10,000 people gathered in Frankfurt and Hamburg, according to Reuters journalists.
Many raised hands in the air and held banners with slogans such as: “Your Pain Is My Pain, Your Fight Is My Fight”.
One poster at the Frankfurt rally asked: “How Many Weren’t Filmed?” in reference to the fact that Floyd’s case was caught on camera in Minneapolis.
People gather for a Black Lives Matter protest in Nijmegen, Netherlands
As authorities in many parts warned of the risk of COVID-19 infections from large gatherings, many protesters wore anti-coronavirus masks, some in black or with a clenched fist image.
In London’s Trafalgar Square, dozens took to one knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Placards read: “White People Must Do More” and “Justice for Belly Mujinga” in reference to a rail worker who died of COVID-19 after being spat at by a man who said he was infected.
In Australia, demonstrators marched to Parliament House in Canberra, social media images showed, despite attempts by the authorities to stop gatherings due to the coronavirus.
Australians have also been drawing attention to mistreatment of indigenous nationals.
Protesters gather during the demonstration on Dam Square in Amsterdam.
Austrian demonstrators gathered near the U.S. Embassy, holding banners with slogans such as “There Are No Races Just One Species”, while in Norway police let thousands of people protest even though authorities had said only 50 would be allowed.
Ignoring one-metre social distancing guidelines but wearing masks, several thousand people gathered in front of the Norwegian parliament and hundreds outside the U.S. Embassy.
Elsewhere, rallies were held on Friday in the Netherlands, Liberia, Italy, Canada and Greece.
More were planned for the weekend though Paris police have banned a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, citing the risks of social disorder and the coronavirus.
Canadian protesters chanted “Stand up to Trump!” to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he joined thousands at an anti-racism rally on Friday and took a knee alongside protesters.
Trudeau, wearing a black mask and surrounded by bodyguards, made a surprise appearance at the “No justice = No peace” rally in front of Parliament. His appearance came a day after police shot and killed an indigenous woman during a wellness check in eastern Canada.
Demonstrations were held in other Canadian cities on Friday, including Toronto, where hundreds walked downtown in protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while in police custody in Minnesota.
