Advertisement

In Pictures: Crowds gather in central London for Black Lives Matter protest

Demonstrators gathered in London on Wednesday for a series of Black Lives Matter protests in memory of George Floyd, who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis.

The protests saw people take a knee in honour of Mr Floyd, including at a gathering in Brixton.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Yui Mok/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Yui Mok/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Yui Mok/PA)

Earlier, organisers of a gathering at Hyde Park reminded people to social distance and handed out gloves.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)

George Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis, sparking days of protest.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA).
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)

Star Wars actor John Boyega made an emotional speech at the rally.

The film star, 28, told fellow demonstrators he was “speaking to you from my heart”.

He told the crowd: “Imagine this: a nation that is set up with individual families that are thriving, that are healthy, that communicate, that raise their children in love, have a better rate of becoming better human beings, and that’s what we need to create.

“Black men, it starts with you. It’s done man, we can’t be trash no more. We have to be better.”

John Boyega
(Victoria Jones)

The protesters then left Hyde Park and headed towards Victoria Station.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Demonstrators marched down Park Lane in central London – gaining support from some motorists on the way.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Protesters then descended on Parliament Square and gathered at the gates of Downing Street.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)

Demonstrators also gathered outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Meanwhile there was a mass rally in Trafalgar Square.

Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Black Lives Matter protests
(Victoria Jones/PA)