A tale of two Brooklyns: royals' visit to NBA game coincides with protests

Empire state of mind: the Duke and Duchess meet Queen B. Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Brooklyn for a basketball game on Monday, they laughed with Jay Z, sat next to Dikembe Mutombo – and were almost entirely protected from the thousands of protesters outside the Barclays Center.

In the wake of several high-profile deaths of black men at the hands of police officers, cities around the US have seen near daily protests against police brutality. In New York, protesters angered by the death of Eric Garner have gathered nightly at Grand Central Terminal and elsewhere, shutting down highways.

On Monday night, with the world’s spotlight already on the arena for William and Kate’s high-profile double date with Jay Z and Beyonce, thousands of protesters staged a die-in on the streets outside. For one evening, two very different worlds took over the same city block in Brooklyn.

Inside

Prince William and Catherine pose with NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Brooklyn Nets. Photograph: Neilson Barnard/AFP/Getty Images

Outside

Protestors lay down on the street outside the Barclays Center as part of a ‘die-in’. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

Inside

LeBron James and other players warmed up before the game wearing a T-shirt featuring Eric Garner’s last words. The royal couple arrived later in the game, after the players had changed to their uniforms. Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

Outside

#ICantBreathe Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

Inside

Catherine sits courtside next to Irina Pavlova, who works for the Nets. Photograph: James Devaney/WireImage

Outside

Protesters outside the Barclays Center. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

Inside

The crowd cheers Kate and William as they are displayed on the giant video screen. Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

Outside

Protestors enter Atlantic Terminal Mall next to the Barclays Center. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP