George Floyd protests live updates: Black Lives Matter demonstrations, reactions, Trump
George Floyd death sparks protests in US and around world: latest news, 7/8 June
This George Floyd live coverage feed is now closed. For the latest news and developments relating to Floyd's death and the Black Lives Matters movement please follow the Monday June 8 live blog here.
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden to meet George Floyd's family
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday and meet with the family of George Floyd, two weeks after Floyd's death in police custody triggered nationwide protests over racial injustice, aides said.
Biden is expected to offer his sympathies to Floyd's relatives and record a video message for the private funeral service scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Floyd's hometown of Houston, two aides said. He is not expected to attend the service to avoid any disruption to mourners that could be caused by his Secret Service protective detail.
Global Floyd protests
European cities witnessed many protests this weekend as thousands took to the streets in Barcelona, Bordeaux, Berlin, Paris, London, Madrid and Dublin.
Johnson slams thuggery
PM Boris Johnson defended the rich of peaceful protest but claimed to hold 'subverters' responsible for disturbance as thousands took to streets across the UK over the weekend as part of the global wave of George Floyd inspired protests.
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling backs anti-racism protests
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling backs anti-racism protests
Manchester City's England soccer international Raheem Sterling has backed anti-racism protests in Britain after the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
K-pop boyband BTS' fans match group's $1 million donation to Black Lives Matter
Fans of the popular South Korean boy band BTS matched its $1 million donation to Black Lives Matter (BLM) in support of U.S. protests against police brutality, an organisation that runs fundraisers for the fans said on Monday.
The K-pop group's music label, Big Hit Entertainment, on Sunday told Reuters that BTS had donated $1 million to BLM in early June.
The seven-member BTS wrote on its Twitter account on Thursday that they are against racism and violence with the hashtag BlackLivesMatter.
"We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together."
Minneapolis council members say they will 'end' police department after Floyd death
A majority of Minneapolis City Council members favor phasing out the city's police department and creating a new way to ensure public safety, officials said, a sign that protests over the police killing of George Floyd are having an impact.
"We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department," Council Member Jeremiah Ellis said on Twitter. "And when we're done, we're not simply gonna glue it back together.
We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response."
The movement to "defund the police" predates the current protests but has won new support since a video of Floyd, an unarmed black man, pinned to the ground with a knee to the neck by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, horrified viewers around the world last month.
Bristol police employed 'tactical decision' as protesters topple statue
Avon and Somerset Police Superintendent Andy Bennett said Colston was "an historical figure who has caused the black community quite a lot of angst over the past few years" and explained why the force held off from detaining protesters who brought down the statue and rolled into the docks.
Trump says National Guard will withdraw from DC
President Donald Trump tweeted that the National Guard will begin to withdraw from Washington, D.C. "now that everything is under perfect control."
George Floyd protest: why have Twitter and Facebook removed Trump's Heal, not Hatred video?
Why have Twitter and Facebook removed Trump's 'Heal, not Hatred' video?
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram took down a video tribute to George Floyd posted by the US president's media team for infringing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Read more here:
Large 'Black Lives Matter' turn-out in Rome
Thousands of people gathered in Rome's Piazza del Popolo to participate in the demonstration to demand justice for George Floyd, against racism and in solidarity with the protests in the United States.
George Floyd protests: what does ‘Defund the police’ mean?
Minneapolis City Council members announce plan to defund and dismantle city police dept
Nine members of the Minneapolis City Council have said they are "committed to dismantling police as we know it in the city of Minneapolis and to rebuild with our community, a new model of public safety that actually keeps our communities safe."
With nine members the council members would have a veto-proof majority among the 13 total members.
They admitted that not having a police department is not feasible, at least in the short term, but are studying ways to approach the problem. "Right now, our police department is not making our community feel safe," said Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender.
See this on what defunding the police means:
American Medical Association
It's not just the statement on police brutality and racism, it's also the apology: "The AMA recognizes that worsening inequities, unequal access to care, and the disproportionately small number of Black physicians all have roots in past actions of the AMA."
Joe Biden to meet George Floyd's family
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday and meet with the family of George Floyd.
Biden has criticized President Donald Trump in recent days for his response to the protests, which have largely been peaceful but have occasionally led to violent clashes and property damage. Trump, a Republican, has called on authorities to crack down on protesters.
Biden, the former vice president, is often praised by supporters for his ability to offer comfort to those in mourning; his first wife and infant daughter died in an automobile accident, and his son Beau died of brain cancer.
Edward Colston statute dumped in Bristol Harbour
It's fair enough to understand that Edward Colston lived in a very different time, but there can be no justification for having statues of slavers still standing.
Philadelphia curfew lifted
The city has also reminded people that heat and sunny weather doesn't stop the spread of Covid-19. Wear a mask. Stay two metres apart, or six feet, depending which way you roll.
London shows solidarity with BLM
Protesters hold placards as they sit around the edges of Parliament Square in central London after attending a demonstration outside the US Embassy, today, organised to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
NY curfew lifted
Bill de Blasio has said the city's curfew is being lifted, with immediate effect. It was in force from 20:00 to 05:00 through 7 June.
Why is tear gas banned in war but not from George Floyd protests?
Despite being listed as a chemical agent prohibited on the battlefield by international law, US security forces are allowed to fire CS gas at civilian protestors.
Who is Ahmaud Arbery and why was he killed?
Following the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery's case was heard on 4 June and three white men charged with murder over the killing of the unarmed jogger.
Black Lives Matter protest in Edinburgh
A protester dressed in a Captain America costume attends a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Edinburgh, UK. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
"Virus of racism out of control" - Joshua
Speaking at a Black Lives Matter protest in his hometown of Watford on Saturday, world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua said the "virus of racism is out of control."
"The virus has been declared a pandemic," Joshua said. "This is out of control. And I'm not talking about COVID-19. The virus I'm talking about is called racism.
"We stand united against a virus which has been instrumental in taking lives, taking lives of the young, old, rich, poor; a virus which is unapologetic and spreads across all sectors."
He added: "We can no longer sit back and remain silent on these senseless, unlawful killings and sly racism on another human being - based on what? Only their skin colour.
"We need to speak out in peaceful demonstrations - just like today, so well done Watford. We must not use a demonstration for selfish motives and turn it into rioting and looting."
(Photo: PAUL CHILDS/REUTERS)
Who is Breonna Taylor and why is her case related to George Floyd?
Who is Breonna Taylor and why is her case related to George Floyd?
Breonna Taylor would have been 27 years old on 5 June had she not been killed by the police, and in Louisville protestors have broken curfew for three nights in a row.
Full story:
George Floyd protests: what does ‘Defund the police’ mean?
'Defund the police': what does it mean?
Protests continued in many parts of the world over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. And some feel that police departments need reforming.
Full story:
Black Lives Matter protest in Madrid
Demonstrators gather in the Puerta del Sol, in central Madrid, to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in police custory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo: EFE/Rodrigo Jiménez)
"Power of protests leaves Trump exposed"
Reflecting on the Black Lives Matter protests in the Observer today, the journalist Chris McGreal has spoken of a "week that shook the nation" and has left a "callous" Donald Trump "exposed".
"America has been here before, split by racial division that left its cities in flames and its citizens demanding a different country," McGreal writes.
"But not for half a century, and never with a president whose response to demands for basic justice were so belligerent and divisive that even his former top military officials have turned on him."
Washington protest the city's biggest
Saturday's protests in Washington DC, which saw tens of thousands of demonstrators converge on the streets of the capital, were the biggest so far in the city since the death of George Floyd in police custody last week.
Here, the media outlet NPR offers a selection of photos from the Black Lives Matter demonstrations:
George Floyd protests live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests taking place in the US and throughout the world in response to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American, in police custody in Minneapolis last week.