{UAH} Thousands in New Zealand protest against George Floyd killing

Thousands in New Zealand protest against George Floyd killing

Speakers highlight racism against Indigenous people and call on Ardern to denounce killing

Protesters demonstrate against the killing of George Floyd in Auckland, New Zealand, on 1 June. Photograph: Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images

Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin

@EleanorAingeRoy

Published onMon 1 Jun 2020 09.05 BST

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Tens of thousands of New Zealanders have come out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, after the death of George Floyd in the US.

At least four solidarity gatherings were held in the country on Monday afternoon, with massive crowds taking to their knees in the Auckland demonstration.

Tens of thousands marched from Aotea Square, in central Auckland, to the American embassy, carrying signs with messages such as "Be kind", "Silence is Betrayal" and "Do Better, Be Better".

Earlier, as speakers called for the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, to denounce the killing of Floyd as a hate crime, many in the crowd took to one knee. Auckland is New Zealand's biggest and most ethnically diverse city, with more than 40% of the city identifying as something other than Pakeha (European New Zealander).

Those in attendance broke the government's coronavirus physical distancing regulations, as well as the ban on any public gatherings above 100 people, currently in place as New Zealand enters the final phase of suppressing the outbreak. The deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, denounced the protests for hijacking New Zealand's Covid-19 plan.

Despite the charged atmosphere, the gathering remained peaceful throughout, and police kept their distance.

Speakers called on Ardern to denounce the killing of Floyd as a hate crime, and show similar leadership as she did following the mass murders of 15 March last year, when a lone gunman killed 51 worshippers in a Christchurch mosque.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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