George Floyd Protests: Thousands March against Racism in New Zealand (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A massive crowd turned out in the Cathedral Square, New Zealand’s Christchurch, to march in solidarity against racism with George Floyd, an African American man killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“Black lives matter, indigenous lives matter, Muslim lives matter" is the ethos embraced by thousands taking part in protests across New Zealand, teh New Zealand Herlad.
Riots erupted in the United States after days of protests in the name of George Floyd, an African American man who died after being handcuffed and pleading for air as a white police officer knelt on his neck.
The officer in question, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
But New Zealand events on Monday were peaceful, despite several thousand people gathering in Auckland, and hundreds more in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.
In one of the largest demonstrations seen in central Auckland in several years, protestors overflowed from Aotea Square into Queen St.
About 4.30pm, thousands of people arrived outside the American Consulate, took a knee and chanted “Are we next?” and “Black Lives Matter”.
The American flag appeared to have been removed from the US consulate building before the protest.
But the gathering remained entirely peaceful, with just a few police officers stationed at one end.
As well as talks, the Auckland event included a karakia from a Ngāti Whātua representative and a minute's silence for George Floyd.
In Wellington, more than 100 people marched on Parliament.
An official candlelight vigil is also planned in the capital this evening.
In Christchurch, more than 500 people have gathered to send a message that "the world will not accept racism".
More than 100 Black Lives Matter protesters also walked from Frank Kitts Park to Parliament in Wellington on Monday afternoon.
They chanted the names of African American victims of police brutality, told stories and shared their experiences.
While the protests were mostly focused on the death of George Floyd and other unarmed African Americans in the US, they also aimed at raising attention about police in New Zealand.
