Politics

British tear down statue of slave trader as protests over George Floyd killing continue around the world

Key Points
  • In Washington D.C., thousands staged what was the city's biggest demonstration yet on Saturday.
  • Demonstrations also took places in cities around the world from Europe to Australia. 
  • Protesters in Bristol, England, toppled a statue of slave trader Edward Colston, whose company transported tens of thousands of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean between 1672 and 1689
Demonstrators hold their fists in the air during at the Lincoln Memorial during a protest against police brutality and racism on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee

People across the U.S. and around the world gathered in major demonstrations on Sunday against racism and police violence, marking the 13th consecutive day of protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota last month. 

In Washington D.C., tens of thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial and near the White House Saturday in what was likely the city's largest demonstration yet.

Protesters in Bristol, England, toppled a statue of slave trader Edward Colston, whose company transported tens of thousands of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean between 1672 and 1689, and threw it into the city's harbor. 

Thousands of demonstrators also took to the streets in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City and many other cities from coast to coast. 

Thousands of protesters marched across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. 

On Saturday night, a suspect was arrested after an SUV plowed through a crowd of kneeling protesters in Brooklyn, injuring four people. 

Massive demonstrations have also broken out across the world from Europe to Australia, with tens of thousands of protesters calling for an end to racism and police brutality in their own countries. 

In Hong Kong, people staged a demonstration on Sunday in front of the U.S. Consulate, holding up pictures of Floyd and "Black Lives Matter" signs. Massive crowds also took to the streets across France, Germany and Italy.

In London, some protesters near Prime Minister Boris Johnson's residence clashed with police officers.

More than 43,300 National Guard members were on duty on in 34 states and D.C to respond to protests, many of which have been peaceful. In some cases, peaceful protests have been followed with looting and violence at night. Trump said Sunday morning that he had ordered the National Guard to start withdrawing from the nation's capital. 

A memorial service was held in Raeford, North Carolina Saturday for Floyd, a black man whom a white Minneapolis police officer pinned under his knee for more than eight minutes. 

The incident was caught on video and the fired officer, Derek Chauvin, faces second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. Three other officers were also fired and charged with aiding and abetting murder.

Former Vice President Joe Biden will go to Houston on Monday to personally pay respects to Floyd's family. A funeral is scheduled for Floyd on Tuesday in Houston. 

In response to widespread anger and protesting, some U.S. cities have responded to police brutality by suspending officers who have been caught on camera being violent towards protesters, as well as banning police tactics like chokeholds and the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. 

Two Buffalo Police officers who have received national criticism after a video was captured showing them shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground and leaving him bleeding in front of Buffalo City Hall on Thursday night. They were charged with assault in the second degree on Saturday. 

In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner arrested and charged a city police department staff inspector with aggravated assault after the inspector struck a protesting college student in the head with a baton on Monday. The student had serious injuries including a head wound that required staples. 

Two NYPD officers were also suspended after they were caught on video attacking demonstrators. One officer shoved a woman to the ground in Brooklyn and another officer pulled a protester's facemask down and pepper sprayed him.

Other videos show multiple instances of abuse by New York officers, including one video that showed a police car plowing through a crowd of demonstrators and another of officers using batons against peaceful protesters in order to move them. 

Minneapolis city leaders agreed on Friday to ban the use of chokeholds by police. In Seattle, police Chief Carmen Best ordered officers to stop using tear gas on protesters over the next 30 days.

And in Colorado, a federal judge in Denver passed a temporary restraining order on that Friday that bans police from using tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. 

Here are photos of demonstrations around the world: 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Protestors gather along 16th Street NW near the White House during George Floyd protests on June 6, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 06: Demonstrators gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial during a protest against police brutality and racism on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee
Demonstrators gather at the Lincoln Memorial during a protest against police brutality and racism on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee
Demonstrators march past the Lincoln Memorial during a protest against police brutality and racism takes place on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer

BRISTOL, UK

Black Lives Matter protests. Protesters pull down a statue of Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest rally in College Green, Bristol, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. Picture date: Sunday June 7, 2020.
Ben Birchall | Press Association via AP Images
Protesters pull down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest rally on College Green, Bristol, England, Sunday June 7, 2020, in response to the recent killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, USA, that has led to protests in many countries and across the US.
Ben Birchall | PA via AP
Black Lives Matter protests. Protesters throw statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis. Sunday June 7, 2020.
Ben Birchall | Press Associationa via AP
Protesters throw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into the Bristol harbour, during a Black Lives Matter protest rally, in Bristol, England, Sunday June 7, 2020, in response to the recent killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, USA, that has led to protests in many countries and across the US.
Ben Birchall | PA via AP

LONDON, UK

A woman with a megaphone calls for a peaceful protest as protesters gather outside Downing Street during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 07, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.
Chris J Ratcliffe
Police clash with protesters during a Black Lives Matter protest at King Charles Street archway on June 07, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.
Chris J Ratcliffe
Protesters hold placards during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Parliament Square in central London on June 6, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.
Hollie Adams

PARIS, FRANCE

People gather on Champ de Mars in front of Eiffel Tower, in Paris on June 6, 2020, as part of 'Black Lives Matter' worldwide protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed while apprehended by police in Minneapolis, US.
GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT

NICE, FRANCE

People hold placards during a protest in the French riviera city of Nice, on June 6, 2020, as part of 'Black Lives Matter' worldwide protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed while apprehended by police in Minneapolis, US.
VALERY HACHE

TURIN, ITALY

People wear protective mask during the protest for the death of George Floyd on June 06, 2020 in Turin, Italy. The protest has been organized against racism after the death of George Floyd.
Stefano Guidi
General view of protest for the death of George Floyd on June 06, 2020 in Turin, Italy. The protest has been organized against racism after the death of George Floyd.
Stefano Guidi

FRANKFURT, GERMANY

30,000 people gather together in tribute to George Floyd during a protest against racism and police brutality on June 6, 2020 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Thomas Lohnes

BERLIN, GERMANY

Alexanderplatz seen fully crowded with people holding banners and placards as they stand in silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds in tribute to George Floyd during a protest against racism and police brutality on June 6, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.
Michele Tantussi

COLOGNE, GERMANY

People stand with raised fists during a silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds in tribute to George Floyd during a protest against racism and police brutality on June 06, 2020 in Cologne, Germany.
Andreas Rentz

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Protesters participate in a protest in Sydney to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the US, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd and rally to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody after an appeal court's last-minute decision to authorise the public gathering in Australia on June 6, 2020.
Anadolu Agency

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

People march across the Victoria Bridge on June 06, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. Events across Australia have been organised in solidarity with protests in the United States following the killing of an unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota and to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia.
Jono Searle