This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Global Protests Erupt Against Police Brutality and Racism ¶
On June 6, 2020, thousands of people worldwide joined protests against police brutality and racism following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in the US state of Minnesota.
Protests took place in cities across the globe, including London, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, and Berlin, with demonstrators calling for justice and an end to systemic racism.
One speaker at a protest in London shouted, 'It is time to burn down institutional racism,' while the crowd responded with 'Silence is violence.'
Despite warnings about the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, protesters defied health guidelines and gathered in large numbers, with many holding signs and wearing face masks marked with the words 'I can't breathe.'
Protests also took place in smaller cities and towns, with football players from Bayern Munich warming up in 'Red card to racism #BlackLivesMatter' shirts.
As the protests spread, several US police departments launched investigations into officers who were recorded using excessive force against protesters and reporters.
With tensions boiling over, the protests have become a global movement, with people from all walks of life calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.
