Black Lives Matter: Pictures show scale of demonstrations around the world

Worldwide demonstrations took place over the weekend as hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets for Black Lives Matter rallies.

The anti-racism protests began in America following the death of George Floyd, a black man, after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck for nine minutes.

Floyd’s death has become a symbol of police brutality against black Americans. Peaceful protests began in the US before quickly spreading worldwide, but some have been marred by violence.

London, UK

Tens of thousands of people descended upon the streets of central London on Saturday and Sunday.

The rallies was mainly peaceful but some protesters defaced monuments including a statue of Winston Churchill and the Cenotaph war memorial, and on Sunday evening there were clashes between police and a small crowd of protesters throwing objects including bottles and traffic cones. Saturday evening saw police horses being attacked by rebels.

On Sunday, Boris Johnson tweeted: “People have a right to protest peacefully & while observing social distancing but they have no right to attack the police. These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery – and they are a betrayal of the cause they purport to serve. Those responsible will be held to account.”

Read more: 'Brave' BLM protesters stand in front of crowd to stop them attacking police

Berlin, Germany

At least 15,000 people gathered in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz on Saturday for a “Nein zu Rassismus” (“No to racism”) rally held in solidarity with other demonstrations around the globe. The rally provoked criticism for defying social distancing rules but passed peacefully until the evening, when police tweeted that they had been attacked with bottles and stones.

Paris, France

More than 20,000 people filled the streets of Paris for anti-racist protests last week, but Parisian police used tear gas against marchers when the peaceful rally descended into violence.

Further demonstrations were banned by the government, but several thousand still took to the streets on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests across the globe.

There were also demonstrations in other major French cities, including Marseille, Lyon and Lille, with many descending into violent clashes between protesters and police.

New York, USA

Campaigners held a peaceful protest in New York’s Times Square on Sunday. More than 2,000 people filled the square, and many more marched along the city’s streets.

Sydney, Australia

A peaceful protest attended by more than 20,000 people took place in Sydney on Saturday. Police attempted to ban one demonstration through the courts and prime minister Scott Morrison pleaded for people to stay home.

Mask-clad protesters also gathered in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and smaller cities and towns across Australia, drawing attention to racial profiling, police brutality and more than 400 Indigenous people who have died in police custody since 1991.

Seoul, South Korea

Several thousand protesters joined forces on the streets of Seoul to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Tokyo, Japan

Hundreds joined a march on Saturday, increasing to thousands by Sunday, in protest against both the killing of George Floyd and the alleged brutal police treatment of a Kurdish man in Tokyo. The man says he was stopped while driving on 22 May, dragged from his car and shoved to the ground, leaving him with bruises. Both demonstrations were reported as peaceful.

Toronto, Canada

Tens of thousands of people gathered in cities across Canada over the weekend for a succession of peaceful protests. Prime minister Justin Trudeau joined a march in the capital, Ottowa, and many more marched peacefully through streets as part of the worldwide event.