George Floyd Protests: Thousands Take to Streets in UK Chanting 'I Can't Breathe'

Mirror Online: Sunday, May 31, 2020 – Thousands of people have taken to the streets in London and elsewhere in the UK in solidarity with protesters in the US over the death of George Floyd.

Demonstrators holding placards reading “Racism has no place”, “Justice for George Floyd” and “Black Lives Matter” met at Trafalgar Square this afternoon and marched on the US Embassy.

They could be heard chanting “I can’t breathe” – the excruciating words last words George Floyd said while police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck.

In a clip that went viral, Chauvin – who has been sacked and charged with murder – can be seen pressing on Mr Floyd’s neck as he screams “please, please” and calls for his mum, saying he cannot breathe.

The video has caused outrage all over the world, with petitions being signed and protests being organised to fight against police brutality and racism.

The protest in London today comes after an event in Peckham on Saturday and is set to be followed by several more in the capital next week.

People gather in Trafalgar Square in central London on Sunday, May 31, 2020 – AP Photo/Matt Dunham

A banner from the event reads: “We are doing this to place pressure on the American government and show that this is a world wide issue.”

Pictures taken at the protest show hundreds of people – not all wearing masks – close to each other as they chant and shout.

The protesters have since left Trafalgar Square and walked to the gates of Downing Street to continue with their protest.

Buses and cars in Peckham were forced to a standstill yesterday with groups shouting “no justice, no peace” and “stop killing the mandem”

A smaller scale protest also took place today in Wales.

They met outside Cardiff Castle at 1pm where they were urged to socially distance and wear masks. Those who thought they may be at risk were urged to stay at home.

Derek Chauvin, 44, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday, is in isolation in Ramsey County Jail in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mr Floyd’s family also called for the other three officers involved to be arrested as they failed to intervene when Chauvin was pressing on the man’s neck.

Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged over George Floyd’s death.

George Floyd died aged 46 after a police officer held him down with a knee on his neck.

All four officers – Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J Alexander Kueng – were fired from the force.

Former US President Barack Obama called for the incident to be fully investigated.