LONDON, England (AP) — Thousands of people took to the streets of European cities yesterday to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, with protesters in the English port of Bristol venting their anger at the country's colonial history by toppling a statue of a 17th-century slave trader.
Images on social media show protesters appearing to kneel on the statue's neck, recalling the death of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25 that has sparked worldwide protests against racism and police violence.
Police said 14 officers were injured Saturday during clashes with protesters in central London that followed a largely peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration attended by tens of thousands.
Also yesterday, about 20 people in Hong Kong, staged a rally in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement outside the US Consulate in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Organizers told participants that, in Italy, the Black Lives Matter slogan means “avoid seeing black bodies as if they're foreigners” and not as citizens.