45 Compelling Photos From UK Black Lives Matter Protests

Over the weekend, following days of Black Lives Matter marches in the US sparked by the death of George Floyd, a series of solidarity marches took place across the UK.

The protests and uprisings were to pay tribute to Floyd and share anger over the way he died, as well as highlight issues of systemic racism globally and incidents involving Black Britons and the police in the UK.

Last Wednesday, thousands of people marched through Westminster, past Downing Street and to London Victoria station to protest the lack of action over the Covid-19 death of transport worker Belly Mujinga. During the march protesters took a knee in a show of solidarity and chanted 'Black Lives Matter.' Star Wars actor John Boyega was also filmed delivering an emotional speech on racism in Hyde Park.

Then at the weekend, the marching continued across the UK with attendees reporting they were largely peaceful and one of the most poignant moments involving mass kneelings in solidarity and eight minutes of silence in tribute to Floyd. In Bristol, anger at ongoing racial injustice manifested in a statue of slave trader Edward Colston being toppled over by the crowd and thrown into the city's harbour.

If you weren't able to march and want to know the best way to support the movement, find links here to charities, organisations and resources to aid your development and learning.

Scroll through the gallery for a selection of captivating, powerful and thought-provoking photos taken from the protests.