Black Lives Matter Activists Protest At Trafalgar Square Following George Floyd Death

Hundreds of Black Lives Matter activists have gathered at Trafalgar Square to protest following the death of George Floyd.

The protesters chanted 'I can't breathe' and knelt in honour of Mr Floyd, who died on Monday (25 May) after he was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, for alleged fraud.

Activists also held aloft placards brandishing messages such as 'silence = violence' and 'racism has no place'.

Similar scenes unfolded in Peckham yesterday (Saturday), and several more demonstrations are planned in the capital next week.

Since Mr Floyd's death almost a week ago, angry protests have taken place across the globe, with riots breaking out across the streets of Minneapolis.

Harrowing footage showed the 46-year-old struggling to breathe as officer Derek Chauvin (now dismissed) knelt on his neck.

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In clips widely circulated online, Mr Floyd can be heard asking the officer to get off him, telling him he couldn't breathe and that he was in pain.

One on-looker can be heard saying: "Bro, he's not f***ing moving! Get off of his neck!"

Mr Floyd was later pronounced dead.

Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced.

Mr Freeman informed the media that investigations were being made into the three other officers involved in the incident. He also told the press that it was an 'extraordinary' case in that it involved a person being charged within four days of the crime being committed, which, he said, had never been done before.

Upon hearing the news, the US Senator for Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, said: "Police officer Derek Chauvin charged with murder and manslaughter in killing of George Floyd. And there may be subsequent charges. First step towards justice."

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Earlier on Friday, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety told LADbible that Chauvin had been taken into custody.

They said: "At 11.44am, agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on probable cause related to the May 25 death of George Floyd.

"Agents took Mr Chauvin into custody in Minneapolis. Information about charging decisions will follow from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

"The BCA continues to work in partnership with the FBI to gather all facts and information related to this case. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 651-793-7000."

Topics: UK News, Politics

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey