In Pictures

In Pictures: Anti-racism solidarity protests held across world

Thousands have rallied in Germany, the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Brazil against killing of George Floyd in the US.

Syrian artists Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun finish a mural depicting George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapo — Syrian artists Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun finished a mural in the town of Binnish, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, depicting George Floyd, the unarmed man who died while being arrested and pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. [Omar Haj Kadour/AFP]

People in several cities around the world have rallied in solidarity with anti-racism protests in the US, which were triggered after the killing of a Black man at the hands of the police.

Several thousand people marched in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, on Monday to protest the killing of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25.

Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was pinned to the ground by the knee of a white officer in Minneapolis. The officer, who has since been fired and charged for murder, knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, as Floyd pleaded “I can’t breathe”.

Many people around the world have watched with growing unease the civil unrest in the US after the latest in a series of police killings of Black men, women and children.

The Auckland protesters marched to the US Consulate, where they knelt, holding banners reading “I can’t breathe” and “The real virus is racism”. Hundreds more joined the peaceful protests and vigils elsewhere in New Zealand, where Monday was a public holiday.

At a gathering in central London on Sunday, thousands offered support for American demonstrators, chanting “No justice! No peace!” and waving placards with messages like: “How many more?”

In Brazil, hundreds of people protested crimes committed by the police against Black people in Rio de Janeiro’s working-class neighbourhoods, known as favelas. Police used tear gas to disperse them, forcing some demonstrators to repeat Floyd’s words: “I can’t breathe.”

In Canada, an anti-racism protest degenerated into clashes between Montreal police and some demonstrators.

Demonstrators carry placards with slogans as they march in the road outside the US Embassy in London on May 31, 2020 to protest the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police — Hundreds gathered in central London, UK, and marched to the US Embassy to protest against the death of Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. [Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP]

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 31: People hold placards as they join a spontaneous Black Lives Matter march at Trafalgar Square to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and in support of the demonst — People join a Black Lives Matter march at Trafalgar Square to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of the demonstrations in the US. [Hollie Adams/Getty Images]

A woman is holding a Black Lives Matter placard asking for Justice for George and other victims of racism and police brutalities on Montreal''s Place du Canada on May 31, 2020. - Several thousands demo — A woman holds a Black Lives Matter placard demanding "Justice for George" and other victims of racism and police brutality in Montreal's Place du Canada. [Eric Thomas/AFP]

The crowd kneel as it observes a minute of silence in memory of George Floyd, killed at the hands of Minnieapolis Police, during a rally on Montreal''s Place du Canada on May 31, 2020. - Several thousa — Several thousand demonstrators marched on Sunday in central Montreal, Canada, against racism and police violence, in solidarity with demonstrations in the US. [Eric Thomas/AFP]

Women wearing face shields against the spread of the new coronavirus, protest against crimes committed by the police against black people in the favelas, outside the Rio de Janeiro''s state government, — Women protest against crimes committed by the police against Black people in the favelas, outside Rio de Janeiro's state government, Brazil. [Silvia Izquierdo/AP Photo]

epaselect epa08456715 Jadon Sancho of Dortmund celebrates after scoring his teams second goal with a ''Justice for George Floyd'' shirt during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Paderborn 07 — Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrated after scoring a goal against SC Paderborn 07 by tearing off his shirt to reveal a shirt with "Justice for George Floyd" on it. [Lars Baron/EPA]

A woman wearing a face mask raises her fist during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, at Hermannplatz square in Neukoelln district, Berlin, — A woman used her face mask as a placard, writing "Black lives matter more than white feelings" and protesting at Hermannplatz Square in Neukoelln, Berlin, Germany. [Christian Mang/Reuters]

epa08454492 Protesters of the Afroamerican Black lives matters movement hold placards and banners to protest against the Police brutality in USA in memory of George Floyd in front of the US embassy in — Protesters against police brutality in the US in front of the US embassy in Berlin. [Michele Tantussi/EPA]

epa08455867 Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement hold placards and banners to protest against the police brutality in the US following the death of George Floyd, in front of the US Embassy to — Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement hold placards and banners to protest against US police brutality in front of the US Embassy in Berlin. [Michele Tantussi/EPA]

New Zealand protesters hold a vigil against the killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd in a Black Lives Matter protest outisde Parliament in Wellington on June 1, 2020. (Photo by David Lintott / AFP) — New Zealand protesters hold a vigil against the killing of Floyd in a Black Lives Matter protest outside New Zealand Parliament in Wellington. [David Lintott/AFP]

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 01: Protestors perform a haka after marching down Queen Street on June 01, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. The rally was organised in solidarity with protests across the Un — Protesters perform a haka - a traditional warrior dance performed by the Maori Indigenous community - after marching down Queen Street in Auckland during a rally organised in solidarity with protests across the US. [Hannah Peters/Getty Images]