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| Huge Crowds March in Australia and London Against Police Brutality | Huge Crowds March in Australia and London Against Police Brutality |
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| SYDNEY, Australia — They were warned by Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia against attending a Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday because of the coronavirus risk, but tens of thousands would not be deterred. | |
| The health minister in Britain pleaded with residents not to gather for similar marches in cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham to stop the virus’s spread, but throngs showed up anyway — despite the cold weather, the spitting rain and warnings by the police that mass gatherings would violate the rule that only six people from different households could gather outside during the pandemic. | |
| From Paris to Berlin — as in demonstrations this past week in Japan, Sweden and Zimbabwe — people around the world once again turned out in solidarity with Americans protesters calling for justice in the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, at the hands of the police in Minneapolis. | |
| They showed up despite fears of spreading the virus, some wearing masks and gloves, but in circumstances that made it almost impossible to adhere to social distancing regulations. Tens of thousands flowed to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon, shouting anti-racist slogans and carrying signs paying homage to Mr. Floyd, 46, who died after a white police officer held his knee to Mr. Floyd’s neck in Minneapolis on May 25. | |
| Though most people were wearing masks, their collective chants could be heard loud and clear: “George Floyd,” “Black Lives Matter,” “For Justice and Peace,” they said. | |
| Silence fell among the crowd for about minute when the protesters all knelt on the wet ground, and many raised their fists in the air. | |
| The world has been transfixed by the unrest in the United States amid video footage of brutal clashes between police and protesters, along with episodes of looting and destruction — even as many cities held peaceful marches and vigils in Mr. Floyd’s memory. The global demonstrations, continuing for a week now, were inspired by the unrest in the United States to call for an end to racism and police brutality in their own countries. | |
| Even as Mr. Morrison advised Australians against attending the Black Lives Matter protest for fear of spreading infections in a country that has managed to beat back the virus, huge crowds turned out in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, calling for an end to systemic racism and Aboriginal deaths in police custody. Anger has grown for years over the deaths: There have been more than 400 such fatalities since 1991, without a single officer having been convicted. | |
| Despite warnings that they could be fined for defying coronavirus restrictions, protesters showed up wearing masks, holding signs with slogans like “Australia is not innocent” and shouting, “I can’t breathe” — echoing Mr. Floyd’s plea. | |
| In Melbourne, many held Indigenous flags, signs and clap sticks, which they struck in solidarity, chanting, “I can’t breathe” — also the final plea of an Aboriginal man, David Dungay, who died at the hands of the Australian police in 2015. | |
| Police officers surrounded many of the Australian protests but did not engage with the demonstrators, at least initially. In many cases, the protests grew larger than organizers had expected. | |
| The intensity, scale and scope of the protests seemed to dwarf anything Australia has seen in terms of mobilization around the issue of race since at least 2000, when 250,000 people marched for reconciliation over Australia’s treatment of its Aboriginal people. | The intensity, scale and scope of the protests seemed to dwarf anything Australia has seen in terms of mobilization around the issue of race since at least 2000, when 250,000 people marched for reconciliation over Australia’s treatment of its Aboriginal people. |
| In Paris, the authorities have banned people from gathering in front of the United States Embassy, but thousands protested there in the late afternoon as well as near the Eiffel Tower, echoing a protest on Wednesday that drew nearly 20,000 people to remember Adama Traoré, a Frenchman who died in police custody in 2016. | |
| Large crowds were expected on Saturday for the 11th straight day in the United States, aiming to shine a light on police brutality and seeking reforms after a long line of deaths of African-Americans like Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and others at the hands of law enforcement. The peaceful rallies have sometimes turned violent as local police and National Guard troops clashed with marchers and looters smashed stores and destroyed other property. | |
| In Sydney, the protests on Saturday came together under a cloud of tension and uncertainty. After a court ruled late Friday that the marches could not be held, citing the need for social distancing in light of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers appealed. And a higher court’s last-minute decision on Saturday let the demonstration proceed — just minutes before it started. | In Sydney, the protests on Saturday came together under a cloud of tension and uncertainty. After a court ruled late Friday that the marches could not be held, citing the need for social distancing in light of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers appealed. And a higher court’s last-minute decision on Saturday let the demonstration proceed — just minutes before it started. |
| Among the crowds, anger was mixed with resolve. | Among the crowds, anger was mixed with resolve. |
| “We will not be silenced,” an organizer shouted to the crowd of thousands, as helicopters buzzed overhead. “We will be coming to your streets until you get it right.” | “We will not be silenced,” an organizer shouted to the crowd of thousands, as helicopters buzzed overhead. “We will be coming to your streets until you get it right.” |
| Many of the Sydney rally’s supporters suggested that the attempt to cancel Saturday’s event had been an example of racism. They noted that gatherings of mostly white Australians, like farmers’ markets, seemed to have carried on without interruption. | Many of the Sydney rally’s supporters suggested that the attempt to cancel Saturday’s event had been an example of racism. They noted that gatherings of mostly white Australians, like farmers’ markets, seemed to have carried on without interruption. |
| Within minutes of the rally’s start, however, the focus shifted to the subject of deaths at the hands of police in Australia. | Within minutes of the rally’s start, however, the focus shifted to the subject of deaths at the hands of police in Australia. |
| “No justice, no peace, no racist police,” the crowd shouted. People then marched through the usually bustling center of the city. | “No justice, no peace, no racist police,” the crowd shouted. People then marched through the usually bustling center of the city. |
| “I’ve never seen so many emotions expressed by so many people in my whole lifetime of protesting,” said Margaret Campbell, 70, an Aboriginal elder whose heritage is Dhanggati, who watched from the steps where organizers spoke. But she added, “What really matters is what happens when people have to make decisions — how will they vote, how will they keep it up?” | “I’ve never seen so many emotions expressed by so many people in my whole lifetime of protesting,” said Margaret Campbell, 70, an Aboriginal elder whose heritage is Dhanggati, who watched from the steps where organizers spoke. But she added, “What really matters is what happens when people have to make decisions — how will they vote, how will they keep it up?” |
| She was wearing a mask and blue latex gloves. Nearby, volunteers filtered through the crowd offering masks and sanitizing wipes. | She was wearing a mask and blue latex gloves. Nearby, volunteers filtered through the crowd offering masks and sanitizing wipes. |
| In Melbourne, organizers handed out gloves, hand sanitizer and masks and reminded crowds to observe social distancing as best they could, but the sheer number of people cramming the streets made adequate spacing close to impossible. Throngs of masked and gloved protesters lined streets in the central business district. | In Melbourne, organizers handed out gloves, hand sanitizer and masks and reminded crowds to observe social distancing as best they could, but the sheer number of people cramming the streets made adequate spacing close to impossible. Throngs of masked and gloved protesters lined streets in the central business district. |
| Indigenous activists spoke in somber but impassioned tones to the heaving crowd in Melbourne, where protesters held signs with the names and photographs of people who had died in police custody. | Indigenous activists spoke in somber but impassioned tones to the heaving crowd in Melbourne, where protesters held signs with the names and photographs of people who had died in police custody. |
| “You’re on our land,” said Kaya Nicholson, a 17-year-old Indigenous organizer. She told protesters that while she appreciated their support in this moment of global unrest around race, it was crucial that Australians continue to speak up for Indigenous people. | “You’re on our land,” said Kaya Nicholson, a 17-year-old Indigenous organizer. She told protesters that while she appreciated their support in this moment of global unrest around race, it was crucial that Australians continue to speak up for Indigenous people. |
| “Don’t just support Black Lives Matter because it’s trending,” she said. | “Don’t just support Black Lives Matter because it’s trending,” she said. |
| Ron Baird, an African-American living in Australia, drew parallels between Australia’s troubles and the crisis in the United States, disputing the prime minister’s suggestion this past week that Australians were “importing” problems that had not existed in the country. | Ron Baird, an African-American living in Australia, drew parallels between Australia’s troubles and the crisis in the United States, disputing the prime minister’s suggestion this past week that Australians were “importing” problems that had not existed in the country. |
| “No Mr. Morrison, Australia is not the United States, but Australia does have its own long, dark, brutal past of oppression,” Mr. Baird said. | “No Mr. Morrison, Australia is not the United States, but Australia does have its own long, dark, brutal past of oppression,” Mr. Baird said. |
| The global demonstrations have effectively obliterated adherence to social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic and raised fears of further spikes in infections just as many cities and countries were turning a corner in taming the virus. | |
| In Britain, the health minister, Mr. Hancock, cited Covid-19 on Friday in warning protesters not to gather this weekend. “Like so many I’m appalled by the death of George Floyd,” he said at a news briefing. “But we are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat.” He asked people not to attend “large gatherings, including demonstrations, of more than six people” this weekend. | |
| His warning came as the infection rate increased in the northwest and southwest of England, health officials said, with the R number rising to 1 or above it. | His warning came as the infection rate increased in the northwest and southwest of England, health officials said, with the R number rising to 1 or above it. |
| Laurence Taylor, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the main force in London, told the BBC that the planned demonstrations across the country were simply “unlawful.” | Laurence Taylor, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the main force in London, told the BBC that the planned demonstrations across the country were simply “unlawful.” |
| But social media users noted on Twitter that the government was asking people not to protest while opening up Parliament, asking some to go to work and urging others to take public transport and send their children to school. Still others added that Downing Street had lost its credibility when it rallied behind Dominic Cummings, a top aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson who was accused of flouting social distance rules during the lockdown. | But social media users noted on Twitter that the government was asking people not to protest while opening up Parliament, asking some to go to work and urging others to take public transport and send their children to school. Still others added that Downing Street had lost its credibility when it rallied behind Dominic Cummings, a top aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson who was accused of flouting social distance rules during the lockdown. |
| Rahma Mohammad, a 37-year-old history teacher, said things needed to change systemically. | |
| “It’s been discussed historically, but it’s never been resolved,” she said. | |
| Standing next to her, Victoria Weakerly, 42, held a placard that read: “I’m social distancing from my white privilege.” She said that being at the protest and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement was more important than the coronavirus. | |
| “I feel safe here among these people,” she said. | |
| Lisa Atsikidi, 25, said, “It’s nice to see so many people here, not just black people, but also those not affected by this,” adding: “We stand in the fight for equality; we need to come together.” | |
| Damien Cave reported from Sydney; Livia Albeck-Ripka from Melbourne, Australia; and Iliana Magra from London. Elian Peltier contributed reporting from Paris, and Yonette Joseph from London. | Damien Cave reported from Sydney; Livia Albeck-Ripka from Melbourne, Australia; and Iliana Magra from London. Elian Peltier contributed reporting from Paris, and Yonette Joseph from London. |