NEWS
01/06/2020 4:51 PM AEST

Dramatic Photos Emerge From Anti-Police Brutality Protests In The US

The actions were sparked by the death of George Floyd while he was in police custody in Minneapolis.

Tens of thousands of people in cities across the United States have been protesting for days following the death of George Floyd. He was a Black man who died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a police officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes while he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe.

Demonstrators rallied in cities across the US and around the world, including London, Berlin and Toronto. The American protests have spilled into violent clashes and brutal police crackdowns. The National Guard has been deployed in Los Angeles and many cities have imposed strict curfews.

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What began as peaceful demonstrations built into tense situations as seen in some of these jaw-dropping photos that have emerged over the weekend.

  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    Scott Olson/Getty Images
    A demonstrator holds her hand up as police advance during a protest against the killing of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, accused of kneeling on Floyd's neck as he pleaded about not being able to breathe.
  • Raleigh, N.C.
    Raleigh, N.C.
    AP
    A protester is pepper-sprayed at point blank range as police in riot gear deployed tear gas, pepper spray and smoke bombs against demonstrators in downtown Raleigh on May 30, 2020.
  • Houston
    Houston
    MARK FELIX via Getty Images
    George Floyd's niece Gabrielle Thompson, centre, cries as she hugs another woman during a "Justice for George Floyd" event in Houston on May 30, 2020.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    John Minchillo/AP
    A police officer prepares to shoot tear gas on on May 29, 2020. in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.
  • New York City
    New York City
    AP
    Police arrest a protester during a solidarity rally for George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in New York. Protests were held throughout the city over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. 
  • New York City
    New York City
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Protesters in New York City clash with police officers during a protest on May 30, 2020.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    A protester has her eyes washed after being exposed to tear gas on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis.
  • Miami
    Miami
    Wilfredo Lee/AP
    A policeman kicks back a tear gas canister during a demonstration next to the city of Miami Police Department on May 30, 2020.
  • New York City
    New York City
    The Washington Post via Getty Images
    Officers in New York City chase after protesters on May 30, 2020 as they march downtown.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images
    A journalist is seen bleeding after police started firing tear gas and rubber bullets near the 5th police precinct following a demonstration in Minneapolis on May 30, 2020.
  • Washington, DC
    Washington, DC
    ERIC BARADAT via Getty Images
    A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Stop Killing Us" in front of a police line outside of the White House on May 30, 2020.
  • St. Paul, Minn.
    St. Paul, Minn.
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Police in St. Paul, Minn. stand guard at the state capital building on on May 31, 2020 during a protest as unrest continues in the city and around the U.S. following the May 25 death of George Floyd.
  • Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    On May 31, 2020, U.S. National Guard troops patrol in L.A.'s Fairfax District, which was damaged during unrest the day before. The troops were called in by California Gov. Gavin Newsom following violent demonstrations in response to George Floyd’s death.
  • Charlotte, N.C.
    Charlotte, N.C.
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    A demonstrator in Charlotte, N.C. speaks to police on May 30, 2020.
  • Charlotte, N.C.
    Charlotte, N.C.
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    A demonstrator and a police officer hug in Charlotte, N.C. on May 30, 2020.
  • St. Paul, Minn.
    St. Paul, Minn.
    John Minchillo/AP
    Police fire tear gas and less-lethal rounds at protesters during a demonstration on May 29, 2020 in St. Paul, Minn. 
  • Washington, DC
    Washington, DC
    MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
    Demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd, near the White House on on May 31, 2020.
  • New York City
    New York City
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Protesters in New York City set a police vehicle on fire on May 30, 2020 during a protest  following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
  • New York City
    New York City
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Protesters clash with police officers during a protest on May 30, 2020.
  • Denver
    Denver
    David Zalubowski/AP
    Denver police fire pepper balls during a protest outside the State Capitol on May 30, 2020.
  • London, U.K.
    London, U.K.
    Hollie Adams via Getty Images
    People in London hold placards as they join a spontaneous Black Lives Matter march at Trafalgar Square on May 31, 2020.
  • London, U.K.
    London, U.K.
    Hollie Adams via Getty Images
  • Berlin
    Berlin
    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
    People attend a protest rally against racism on May 31, 2020 in Berlin.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Protesters continue to rally in Minneapolis on May 31, 2020.
  • Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
    A police officer prepares to fire rubber bullets during a protest over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man in police custody in Minneapolis, in Los Angeles on May 30, 2020.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Protesters continue to rally in response to the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020. in Minneapolis.
  • Washington, DC
    Washington, DC
    Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    Demonstrators, gathered at Lafayette Park across from the White House on May 30, 2020, attempt to breach a police barricade during a protest.
  • Chicago
    Chicago
    Chicago Tribune via Getty Images
    Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago hold back protesters on May 30, 2020 during a rally and march to remember the May 25 death of George Floyd.
  • Las Vegas
    Las Vegas
    Denise Truscello via Getty Images
    Protesters attend a demonstration demanding justice for the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Las Vegas.
  • Philadelphia
    Philadelphia
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Smoke rises from a fire on a police cruiser in Center City during the Justice for George Floyd Philadelphia Protest on May 30, 2020.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    Star Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images
    Citizen medics help a protester clear her eyes in Minneapolis as police moved in aggressively with tear gas to clear a group of protesters.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    Star Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images
    Protesters gathered near the Minneapolis police 5th Precinct in the hours before curfew on May 30, 2020.
  • Washington, D.C.
    Washington, D.C.
    Alex Wong via Getty Images
    An injured women is tended to near the White House on May 30, 2020 during a protest of the killing of George Floyd.
  • New York City
    New York City
    BRYAN R. SMITH via Getty Images
    New York Police Department officers arrest protesters on May 30, 2020.
  • Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Demonstrators sit in an intersection on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles.
  • Las Vegas
    Las Vegas
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Protesters rally on May 30, 2020 in Las Vegas.
  • Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    A Los Angeles police officer threatens demonstrators during a protest over the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020.
  • Washington, DC
    Washington, DC
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Demonstrators lay on the ground after being exposed to a chemical agent on May 30, 2020 near the White House.
  • St. Paul, Minn.
    St. Paul, Minn.
    Associated Press
    Minnesota national guard stand guard by the State Capitol on May 31, 2020 due to protests and demonstrations after George Floyd's death.
  • Denver
    Denver
    Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
    A woman reacts after being hit by pepper spray next to the Colorado State Capitol on May 30, 2020 in Denver.
  • Washington, DC
    Washington, DC
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 near the White House.
  • Atlanta
    Atlanta
    Brynn Anderson/ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Demonstrators protest on May 30, 2020 in Atlanta.
  • Atlanta
    Atlanta
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Atlanta police detain demonstrators protesting on May 30, 2020.
  • Minneapolis
    Minneapolis
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    A protester throws a tear gas canister back at police on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis.
  • Seattle
    Seattle
    Elaine Thompson/ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Volunteers work side-by-side cleaning graffiti off of a store on May 30, 2020 in Seattle following protests.
  • Aspen, Col.
    Aspen, Col.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Erica Joos, left, and Jenelle Figgins comfort each other as they lay on the ground for nine minutes to honour George Floyd during a peaceful protest in Aspen, Col. on May 31, 2020.
  • La Mesa, Calif.
    La Mesa, Calif.
    Gregory Bull/ASSOCIATED PRESS
    A man looks on as a bank burns after a protest over the death of George Floyd on on May 31, 2020 in La Mesa, Calif.
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