George Floyd protests: Hundreds of thousands take to America's streets to call for racial justice
Unprecedented marches across US call for racial justice as mourners gather in North Carolina for George Floyd memorial
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Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of Americans gathered in cities across the US on Saturday, continuing a second week of demonstrations against police brutality and racism in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day.
Across Europe, the US, Asia and Australia, major demonstrations were being staged. More than 200,000 people were expected to join a march in Washington DC where the White House has installed fencing and an intensified police presence is expected.
In North Carolina, mourners gathered for a memorial service to honour Mr Floyd, as Americans returned to the streets in major cities and small towns to demand racial justice.
Hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects at his coffin.
Rev Christopher Stackhouse from Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church delivered a eulogy, saying that "although it took 8 minutes and 46 seconds for him to die" — referring the length of time that officer Derek Chauvin was kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck before he died — "it took 401 years to put the system in place for nothing to happen".
Meanwhile, demonstrations continued for a 12th day following his death, as officials weigh reform efforts against law enforcement or suspend and charge police officers captured brutalising protesters in cities across the US.
With hundreds of National Guard troops deployed in the city, Donald Trump revived his fight with the mayor and touted his approval ratings among Republicans.
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Atlanta mayor drops curfew
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has lifted the curfew in her city after a nightly order was in place this week beginning at 8pm and ending at sunrise.
Demonstrations there are planned in the city's downtown and surrounding counties on Saturday.
US Marines order Confederate flag to be removed from public display
The US Marine Corps order follows a revived movement to take down symbols of the Civil War in public spaces across the US in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
New York marches underway
Several demonstrations are planned throughout New York City on Saturday, expected to draw thousands to the streets.
A march in Manhattan was seen from overhead moving through Central Park West.
As massive demonstrations take place in Washington, president retweets his attack on mayor
Earlier this week, Donald Trump criticised Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser for the city's handling of protests outside the White House, saying that she's "unqualified" for the job.
As the city prepares for one of its largest demonstrations yet, with the president deploying hundreds of National Gaurd troops around the White House, he shared his tweet again.
District attorneys in New York City will not prosecute curfew arrests
District attorneys in the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens will not prosecute certain arrests made at Black Lives Matter protests.
Massive protests seen from above in Philadelphia as mayor extends curfew through Sunday
Wow.
Meanwhile, Mayor James Kenney has extended a curfew in the city through Sunday morning via executive order.
The curfew begins at 8pm and ends at 6am on Sunday.
Thousands take to the streets in Washington DC
Police in Washington DC report more than 6,000 people are demonstrating near the White House on Saturday.
Getty
Small-town American protests
The protests against racism and police brutality were not confined to large cities as small-town America joined in the calls for justice.
Ivanka Trump complains of 'cancel culture' after Kansas college drops her speech
A Kansas technical school cancelled plans for Ivanka Trump to give a virtual commencement speech to graduates amid criticism of President Trump's response to the death of George Floyd.
She responded in a tweet, saying, "Our nation's campuses should be bastions of free speech. Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia. Listening to one another is important now more than ever!"
Students, alumni and staff had protested her appearance.
"We owe it to our students to stand up for the right thing when and where we can," wrote Jennifer Ray, associate professor of photo media at Wichita State.
"To our students of color, and to me, inviting Ivanka Trump to speak right now sends the message that WSU Tech does not take diversity seriously."
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