Vigils have been held in Dublin to express solidarity with protestors in the US following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer on 25 May. Roughly 100 people stood in silence outside the US embassy in Ballsbridge. A similar vigil was also held outside the US ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park.
Floyd’s murder has resulted in protests across the US with scenes of police brutality being widespread.
Irish solidarity
Protestors in Dublin gathered with placards outside the embassy and ambassador’s residence. Attendees had written Black Lives Matter on many of the placards. Others had written slogans calling for the end of direct provision.
People unable to attend the vigils posted pictures of placards and slogans to also express their solidarity with protestors in the US. Similar online protests have been held in recent months.
“I can’t breathe”
The murder of Floyd, which was captured on camera, has resulted in days of protests and riots across the US. After detaining him, police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while a number of his colleagues looked on.
Floyd could be heard saying “I can’t breathe” and asking for his mother before he lost consciousness and died. Cauvin has since been arrested and charged with murder.
Video of Floyd’s murder quickly went viral and protests erupted across the US. Protestors have been met with heavily armed police. Footage has also emerged of police brutality with some protestors being seriously injured as a result.
And at least one police officer has been filmed flashing the “White Power” sign.
President Donald Trump reacted to the protests by saying looters will be shot. He has also deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis. And a number of cities have also introduced curfews, which have been largely ignored, in an attempt to quell the protests.
Donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund can be made here.
Featured image via Twitter – Gay Community News
