Tens of thousands of people gathered in London Sunday for anti-racism protests that were largely peaceful, but saw some clashes between demonstrators and police. For the second straight day, protesters defaced the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

Why it matters: The tense situation in the U.S. has brought the discussion of racism and discrimination onto the global stage at a time when most of the world is consumed by the novel coronavirus.


  • In the southwestern U.K. city of Bristol, demonstrators toppled a statue of 17th century slaveholder Edward Colston into the harbor, prompting police officers to launch investigation into those who “committed an act of criminal damage,” AP reports.
  • Thousands joined a Black Lives Matter protest in the Belgian capital of Brussels, where some protesters climbed onto the statue of former King Leopold II, known for his atrocities in the now-Democratic Republic of Congo, and chanted “reparations.”

In photos

In the United Kingdom:

Police clash with protesters during a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Westminster, London. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

Activists from the South London branch of Stand Up To Racism hold a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in London on May 31. Thousands more people turned out in the U.K. capital and northern English city of Manchester in further protests later in the day, the start of days-long protests in the country. Photo: Guy Smallman/Getty images

In Germany:

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Berlin and other German cities against racism on June 6, per DW.com. Photo: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Thousands of protesters gather in front of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin during a demonstration against police violence and racism on May 30. Photo: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In Japan:

People attend a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Tokyo on June 6. Photo: David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In France:

A demonstrator holds a banner reading, “It’s not whites vs blacks, this is the world vs racism” in front of a burning barricade following the intervention of security forces in Paris, on June 2, amid days-long protests. Photo: Julien Benjamin Guillaume Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In Australia:

Tens of thousands of Australians have protested in cities including Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, where a traditional indigenous welcoming ceremony is held during a rally outside Sydney Town Hall in Australia on June 6. Photo: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire

Protesters in Sydney rally for the first in a series of protests on June 2. Australia’s finance minister told Sky News demonstrators are “selfish” for protesting despite a ban on large gatherings during the pandemic. Photo: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire

In Sweden:

A Black Lives Matter demonstration in Stockholm on June 3. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

In Canada:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a knee during in an anti-racism protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 5. Photo: Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images

Thousands attend a protest at the Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, Canada, on May 30. Photo: Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In Greece:

Protest reference some of George Floyd’s final words during a protest in Athens, Greece, on June 4. Photo: Menelaos Michalatos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Riots police stand among tear gas during clashes with protesters outside the U.S. embassy in Athens on June 4. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images

In New Zealand:

Some 4,000 protesters march in central Auckland on June 1. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

In Italy:

Protesters gather outside of the U.S. consulate in Milan, Italy, on May 31 with signs reading, “I can’t breathe,” as the country remains in a Phase 2 lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto/Getty Images

In Mexico:

Hand-drawn portraits of George Floyd are hung on a gate outside of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City on Saturday. The sign reads “Racism kills, here, there, and all over the world.” Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Police in several U.S. cities join protesters in solidarity gestures

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with the latest protest news.