From Amsterdam to Berlin to Rio de Janeiro, thousands around the world have taken to the streets to protest George Floyd’s death in solidarity with Black Lives Matter activists in America.
In Amsterdam, around 3,000 people gathered in the city’s Dam Square on Monday to protest against police brutality and racial inequity.
“Institutionally racist violence against black people is a problem that also occurs in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe,” the organizers said in a press statement, according to CNN affiliate and national broadcaster NOS.
In Rio de Janeiro, protesters gathered on Sunday in front of the governor’s palace for a Vidas Negras Importam (Black Lives Matter) demonstration.
Demonstrators carried signs saying: “If racism is international, so is antiracism,” “Stop killing us,” and “Justice isn’t blind. It’s paid not to look.”
In Paris, a small crowd of peaceful protesters representing several French anti-racism organizations gathered near the US embassy on Monday.
They wore black clothing and face masks, took a knee and held up signs saying “I can’t breathe,” “We are all George Floyd” and “Racism chokes us.”
In London, protesters have been arrested throughout the weekend for defying Covid-19 lockdown rules as they march in solidarity with their American counterparts.
“It happens everywhere in the world. People choose to think that it’s not going on anymore. That’s the biggest racism of all right now — the fact that they’re sitting there thinking that it doesn’t exist,” said one protester.
There are countless other protests going on: Demonstrations have happened or are being planned across Australia, Germany, Ireland, Greece, and a number of other countries.
Even world leaders are weighing in. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was “horrified” by George Floyd’s death, and welcomed peaceful solidarity protests in her country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed it as well, saying racism against black people was “real in the United States but it’s also in Canada.”
