Protesters worldwide internalise US’s Black Lives Matter movement
08 June, 2020
Thousands of folks took to the streets in European and Asian cities on Saturday, demonstrating in support of U.S. protests against police brutality.
The rolling, global protests reflect rising anger over police treatment of ethnic minorities, sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a white officer detaining him knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes with fellow officers beside him.
After a largely relaxing protest in London, a few demonstrators near British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s residence threw bottles at police, and mounted officers charged push protesters back.
Earlier, greater than a thousand protesters had marched at night U.S. Embassy, blocking traffic and holding placards.
Plenty had also crowded into the square outside parliament, holding placards reading “Black Lives Matter”, ignoring government advice to avoid large gatherings because of the risk from the coronavirus.
“I have come down to get black people who've been ill-treated for most, many, many, a long time. It really is time for a change,” said 39-year-old primary school teacher Aisha Pemberton.
Police in the German city of Hamburg used pepper spray on protesters and said they were prepared to deploy water cannons. One officer was injured, they added.
Several hundred “hooded and aggressive people” had put officers under great pressure in the city centre, police said, tweeting: “Attacks on cops are unacceptable!”
In Paris the authorities banned demonstrations planned beyond your U.S. Embassy and on the lawns close to the Eiffel Tower.
However, several hundred protesters, some holding “Black Lives Matters” signs, gathered on Place de la Concorde, near to the Embassy. Police had installed an extended barrier over the square to avoid usage of the embassy, which is also near to the Elysee presidential palace.
In Berlin, demonstrators filled the central Alexanderplatz square, while there was also a protest in Warsaw.
PLACARDS AND FLAGS
In Brisbane, one of the Australian cities where rallies were held, police estimated 10,000 people joined a calm protest, wearing masks and holding “Black Lives Matter” placards. Many wrapped themselves in indigenous flags, calling for an end to police mistreatment of indigenous Australians.
Banners and slogans have focused not just on George Floyd but on a string of other controversies in various countries in addition to the mistreatment of minorities generally.
In Sydney, a last-minute court decision overruling a ban imposed because of the coronavirus allowed thousands of persons to march, with much police presence.
In Tokyo, marchers protested against what they said was police mistreatment of a Kurdish man who says he was stopped while driving and shoved to the bottom. Organisers said these were also marching to get the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I would like to show that there’s racism in Japan now,” said 17-year-old high school student Wakaba, who declined to provide her family name.
In Seoul, dozens of South Korean activists and foreign residents gathered, some wearing black masks with “Can’t breathe” in Korean, echoing George Floyd’s final words as he lay on the floor.
In Bangkok, activists avoided coronavirus restrictions by going online, requesting video and photos of men and women wearing black, raising their fists and holding signs, and explaining why they supported the Black Lives Matter movement.
Protesters were expected to gather in Washington for a huge demonstration on Saturday as demonstrations across the United States entered a 12th day.
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