George Floyd death: Thousands protest in Hyde Park in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Thousands of protesters have gathered in Hyde Park over the death of George Floyd as Britain's police say they are "horrified" by the violence and destruction in the US.

The protest in central London started at 1pm in solidarity with protests in the US, with people flocking to the park in crowds and chanting, "no justice, no peace" while holding up signs.

One London protester told Sky News' Mark White she wanted people to stand up for friends, family and colleagues.

Speaking about the events in the US, she said: "It's heartbreaking to watch."

Protesters were initially asked to sit two metres apart unless they were in the same household and were told to keep their arms stretched out to ensure social distancing when moving around the park.

However, as the number of protesters grew, many stood closer together as organisers tried to maintain spacing.

Most of the protesters wore masks or gloves and also chanted "black lives matter" and "we will not be silent".

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George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American, died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May, reigniting the explosive issue of police brutality against African Americans.

It sparked nationwide protests in the US and across the world including Britain, Germany, New Zealand, France and Denmark.

Star Wars actor John Boyega was at the Hyde Park protest and gave an emotional speech where he referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US, as well as the racist UK murder of Stephen Lawrence.

He told demonstrators: "We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence."

He added: "I'm speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this, but f*** that.

"Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones."

Boris Johnson said the death of Mr Floyd was "inexcusable", adding: "I think what happened in the United States was appalling, it was inexcusable, we all saw it on our screens and I perfectly understand people's right to protest what took place."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the prime minister to speak to US President Donald Trump and "convey to him the UK's abhorrence about his response to the events".

"Though obviously I also believe that protest should take place in a lawful and reasonable way," he added.

The mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, said that the quarterly race equality on the use of policing powers across different communities in Greater Manchester will be published.

He said it was one of three new commitments by the region's political leaders following the "shock waves" from Mr Floyd's death which have been "felt powerfully and painfully here in Greater Manchester".

Later today, former US president Barack Obama will live stream a town hall discussion on Obama.org about the events of recent weeks, the recurrent problem of racial bias in the US criminal justice system, and steps that need to be taken to make bring about change.

British rapper Tinie Tempah, who shared a rap on his Instagram account about Floyd, told Sky News he was "hurt and disgusted" by his death.

He said: "I was outraged and unfortunately for me, this is not the first video I've seen like this.

"There have been dozens and dozens of videos that have come out of America over the recent years; Philando Castile, Eric Garner included.

"This is a systemic problem and racism isn't only going on in America".

Earlier, chief constables from forces across the UK released a joint statement saying: "We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.

"Justice and accountability should follow."

They highlighted the "long-established tradition of policing by consent" in the UK and added: "We will tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it."

Police acknowledged the right to lawful protest being a "key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate", but said restrictions are still in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, meaning no more than six people in a group can gather outside.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she recognised that "feelings are running higher in London" and wanted to reassure the public that officers will "continue with our tradition of policing using minimum force necessary".

She said police would be listening and responding to concerns "fairly and with courage and compassion".

"Our job is to prevent violence and keep people safe," Commissioner Dick added.

An anti-racism campaign group is now urging Britons to "take the knee" on their doorsteps for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with US protesters.

Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) has organised the protest for 6pm on Wednesday as part of a day of action against discrimination in response to Mr Floyd's death.

It said the campaign was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by Colin Kaepernick in 2016, which has since become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.

As well as the protest in London's Hyde Park, a protest in South Park in Oxford is happening at the same time.

A further demonstration is planned for 1pm on Saturday in Parliament Square, London.

Hundreds of people gathered outside St George's Hall in Liverpool on Tuesday as part of a separate Black Lives Matter protest.

Thousands of people in Dublin protested outside the US embassy on Monday.

And on Sunday, thousands of demonstrators flouted social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square, central London, for a Kneel for Floyd protest, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton in south London on Monday.

Sunday's protests lead to 23 arrests in London, at least three of which were for breach of COVID-19 measures.

Eyewitness, by Jason Farrell, home editor

It's not the largest, but one of the most passionate marches I've witnessed. There were no mass-produced placards just a multitude of messages on cardboard.

Protesters were peaceful but angry. Angry about, that video, general police brutality, racism, Trump, inequality, and that America's woes resonated in their own lives.

Angry too that police chiefs here had dared to express solidarity with those "appalled and horrified" by the death of George Floyd in America. Names were listed on protesters' T-shirts of black people who died at the hands of the police or in police custody here in the UK. "They need to get their own house in order," said one campaigner.

Authorities told them they needed to social distance but they felt the need to come together to send their message loud and clear - "black lives matter."

And just as police couldn't control the gathering under the rules of the pandemic - nor did they properly cordon it as it sprawled down to Hyde Park Corner bringing traffic to a standstill - taking its message to Downing Street.