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George Floyd protests – live: March on Washington announced in powerful eulogy, as police officers appear in court

Joe Sommerlad, Justin Vallejo
·1-min read
Demonstrators attend a 'Sit Out the Curfew' protest against the death of George Floyd, who died on 25 May in Minneapolis while in police custody, along a street in Oakland, California, on 3 June 2020: Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty
Demonstrators attend a 'Sit Out the Curfew' protest against the death of George Floyd, who died on 25 May in Minneapolis while in police custody, along a street in Oakland, California, on 3 June 2020: Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty

The family of George Floyd will lead a march on Washington to mark the 57th anniversary Martin Luther King's famous speech and "restore and recommit that dream" of the Civil Rights era.

The announcement was made by Reverend Al Sharpton in an impassioned eulogy calling on the country to "get your knee of our necks" at the first of three memorial services for Mr Floyd. It came as three police officers that stood nearby appeared before court just a few blocks away, with bail set at $750,000 apiece.

Mr Sharpton denounced the looting, riots and violence that has occurred in the wake of Mr Floyd's death and said those who break the law should pay for the laws they break.

Attorney General William Barr defended police tactics and denied that he was responsible for ordering armed police clear a path for Donald Trump from the White House to St John's Church.

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