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
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
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.
Follow live coverage as it happened
Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load
No curfew in Washington DC
As thousands of demonstrators take to the streets, Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser's office says it has lifted a nightly curfew that has been in place since Wednesday.
A frequent target of Donald Trump, the mayor has in recent days joined protesters, installed Black Lives Matter street signage, and supported street paintings that read Black Lives Matter so big they can be seen by satellite.
A wedding in the streets of Philadelphia
Kerry Anne and Michael Gordon celebrated their wedding day during demonstrations in Philadelphia, marching from Philadelphia Museum of Art to City Hall.
See more photographs from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Opinion: Today's Antifa-obsessed hard right politicians are rehashing the ideas of 1930s fascists
Evan Smith writes that fascist tropes with a have been revitalised and repurposed, as the line between liberalism and illiberalism blurs.
ICYMI: The morale-boosting therapy llama that's been spotted at Black Lives Matter demonstrations
Read more here:
At least 30,000 attend demonstrations in Chicago
Chicago officials say roughly 30,000 people marched in Chicago on Saturday, one of hundreds of Black Lives Matter demonstrations taking place across the US and one of several in the Illinois city.
A march across the city was more than 20 blocks long.
Protests take aim at Trump properties
After demonstrators headed to Trump Tower properties in New York and Chicago in recent days, demonstrators in Florida headed to the president's Doral resort:
Traffic stopped in both directions as thousands take Golden Gate Bridge on foot
We're ending live coverage of today's historic demonstrations across the US.
Stay tuned with The Independent.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies