George Floyd: Crowd gathers at Belfast City Hall for protest

A large crowd has gathered at Belfast City Hall to protest over the death of George Floyd.

Mr Floyd, an African-American man, died in policy custody in the United States nine days ago.

His death has led to widespread demonstrations and civil unrest in the US.

The protests have spread to the UK and Republic of Ireland, with the demonstration in Belfast attracting a large number of people.

Protests began in the US after a video showed Mr Floyd, 46, being arrested on 25 May in Minneapolis and a white police officer continuing to kneel on his neck even after he pleaded that he could not breathe.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder.

Three other officers present at Mr Floyd's death face counts of aiding and abetting murder.

Jolene Francis, who helped to organise the Belfast rally, told the BBC she wanted to send a message of solidarity to "our friends over in America".

She said: "We see them, we hear them, we empathise with them and we refuse to be silent any longer, even if it's not an issue that's happened in Belfast specifically.

"There's a history of solidarity between us here in Belfast, and the black community in America, and we don't plan on having our voices silenced.

"I'm overwhelmed - masses and masses and masses of people. It's people of all colours and ages."

She added that while social distancing was important, she believed there was a "social responsibility to show our solidarity and demand justice against racial discrimination".

Asked about the rally, Stormont's Economy Minister Diane Dodds told the executive's daily coronavirus press briefing she understood why people wanted to demonstrate, but large gatherings could pose a risk to curbing the spread of Covid-19.

She said: "We have all watched with horror the video of the death of George Floyd.

"Many people are concerned to make their voice heard and to let the authorities know they stand in solidarity.

"However for us in the here and now, controlling the rate of the virus is really important.

"It is incumbent upon all of us to act responsibly and practise social distancing.

"While we may want to stand in solidarity with those in the US and the Floyd family, who have been grievously hurt, we have to have a responsibility to ourselves and others in our immediate vicinity."

Northern Ireland's Justice minister Naomi Long also said she was concerned about the numbers of people who had come together to protest.

In a tweet, Mrs Long said while she was fully sympathetic to protestors' "just cause", such a gathering at this time is "reckless and could endanger lives."

She added that she had discussed large gatherings with the PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne on Wednesday.

She tweeted: "Don't rely on enforcement, be responsible."

The newly installed moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has warned US President Donald Trump to "be careful how you handle the Bible".

Mr Trump was pictured holding a Bible outside St John's Episcopal Church, near the White House, after saying he planned to "dominate the streets" and end civil unrest.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme, the Reverend David Bruce said: "What provoked me to do this was the double symbolism of this head of state, standing outside a church building and holding a Bible at a time when his country is facing multiple and complex challenges

"The coronavirus and pandemic is hitting America very hard, you also obviously have the events following the killing of George Floyd and this terrible sight of riots.

"My concern is that when the Bible is handled it has to be handled carefully, it describes itself as like a two-edged sword, which means that it cuts one way, which you may predict, but then suddenly you find yourself being mastered by it, it turns itself on you.

"There are multiple examples in history of politicians who have got this wrong."

In a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, members from across the chamber spoke out against the circumstances which led to Mr Floyd's death.

A number of MLAs also condemned the violence which has erupted at some of the protests in the US.

Meanwhile, Derry and Strabane District Council has opened an online book of condolence in memory of Mr Floyd.