Protests against institutional racism continue to sweep the globe following the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd.
On Sunday, demonstrators in Bristol tore down a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston, while protesters in Belgium graffitied "shame" on a monument to King Leopold II, who presided over mass killings in Congo.
In the US, Minnesota lawmakers pledged to dismantle its police department, promising to create instead a new system of public safety, while New York mayor Bill de Blasio said he would cut the city's $6bn police budget and spend instead more on social services.
Follow Monday's latest developements using The Independent's live blog.
Edward Colston: Who was the slave trader and why was his statue pulled down?
Historic scenes were witness in Bristol over the weekend as Black Lives Matter protesters pulled down a controversial statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and rolled the memorial into the Bristol Harbour.
The divisive memorial was erected in 1895, with a plaque that read: “Erected by citizens of Bristol as a memorial of one of the most virtuous and wise sons of their city.”
Colston’s legacy and memory has been honoured in Bristol for centuries, and his name is seen on streets and buildings throughout the city. His statue stood on Colston Avenue, as does Colston Tower; Colston Hall is located on Colston Street; Colston’s Day is celebrated on 14 November, when Colston buns are eaten. A number of schools also bear his name.
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Historic scenes were witness in Bristol over the weekend as Black Lives Matter protesters pulled down a controversial statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and rolled the memorial into the Bristol Harbour.
The divisive memorial was erected in 1895, with a plaque that read: “Erected by citizens of Bristol as a memorial of one of the most virtuous and wise sons of their city.”
Colston’s legacy and memory has been honoured in Bristol for centuries, and his name is seen on streets and buildings throughout the city. His statue stood on Colston Avenue, as does Colston Tower; Colston Hall is located on Colston Street; Colston’s Day is celebrated on 14 November, when Colston buns are eaten. A number of schools also bear his name.
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Home Secretary Priti Patel has tweeted an image of the Daily Mail front page, showing the toppling of the Colston statue in Bristol and graffiti on the Churchill monument in Parliament Square.
She wrote: “These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery. Justice will follow.”
She wrote: “These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery. Justice will follow.”
Romney first Republican senator spotted at Black Lives Matter protest
Utah senator Mitt Romney has become the first Republican senator spotted at a protest over police violence and the death of George Floyd, killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and 2012 presidential candidate, tweeted a mask-clad selfie taken on the streets of Washington accompanied by the words “Black Lives Matter".
In an on-camera interview, Mr Romney said he and the other marchers were there “to end violence and brutality, and to make sure that people understand that black lives matter”.
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Utah senator Mitt Romney has become the first Republican senator spotted at a protest over police violence and the death of George Floyd, killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and 2012 presidential candidate, tweeted a mask-clad selfie taken on the streets of Washington accompanied by the words “Black Lives Matter".
In an on-camera interview, Mr Romney said he and the other marchers were there “to end violence and brutality, and to make sure that people understand that black lives matter”.
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Former Bristol City footballer Liam Rosenior has spoken out about the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in the city.
"I attended COLSTONS (slave owner and killer) primary school in order to receive my 'education'," he tweeted.
"Pardon me for enjoying this moment of irony."
"I attended COLSTONS (slave owner and killer) primary school in order to receive my 'education'," he tweeted.
"Pardon me for enjoying this moment of irony."
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said Bristol's Colston statue should have been removed long before now.
Sean O'Grady: Statues are a mark of honour. Like Edward Colston, Cecil Rhodes and Oliver Cromwell have to go
Given everything, I’m quite surprised the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol survived for as long as it did. His reputation, after all, was trashed long before his memorial.
He acquired his vast fortune, later used philanthropically, from the slave trade. He was thus responsible for the death of thousands of the African slaves - that is, his fellow human beings - that he so profitably shipped across the Atlantic.
If a ship transport was too heavy or running out of food, women and children were thrown over the side. Now the iconoclasts of Bristol have tossed Colston into the drink.
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Given everything, I’m quite surprised the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol survived for as long as it did. His reputation, after all, was trashed long before his memorial.
He acquired his vast fortune, later used philanthropically, from the slave trade. He was thus responsible for the death of thousands of the African slaves - that is, his fellow human beings - that he so profitably shipped across the Atlantic.
If a ship transport was too heavy or running out of food, women and children were thrown over the side. Now the iconoclasts of Bristol have tossed Colston into the drink.
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Conservative MP Ben Bradley has appeared to defend 17th century slave trader Edward Colston.
"Almost as if they didn't know any better," he tweeted of historical figures following the tearing down of Colston's statue in Bristol.
"Almost as if they didn't know any better," he tweeted of historical figures following the tearing down of Colston's statue in Bristol.
In fact, there were many figures from that era against slavery, including fellow politician William Wilberforce.
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Minneapolis mayor booed out of protest for refusing to commit to abolishing police department
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faced a chorus of boos and chants of “shame” when he refused to commit to abolishing the city’s police department this weekend.
Saturday was the 12th day of protests over the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.
A peaceful march was led by the Black Visions Collective from Bottineau Park in the city with chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the police, give the money to the community”, CBS affiliate WCCO reports.
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faced a chorus of boos and chants of “shame” when he refused to commit to abolishing the city’s police department this weekend.
Saturday was the 12th day of protests over the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.
A peaceful march was led by the Black Visions Collective from Bottineau Park in the city with chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the police, give the money to the community”, CBS affiliate WCCO reports.
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This photo taken on Sunday after demonstrators in Bristol tore down the statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston may just become iconic.
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US sees spike in white people sending money to their black friends
Parker Gillian laughed the first time a white co-worker sent her money unprompted. It was all she could do.
Since protests erupted last week over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Ms Gillian had been hearing from white acquaintances who wanted to check in on her wellbeing. There was a straightforward logic to it: she is a young black woman in Chicago and there is a civil rights movement playing out nationwide, on streets and on screens, with black people at its centre.
But some of the people who reached out were not especially close to her. And even those who were actually friends seemed to subtly ask for her guidance about how they, Good White Allies, should handle the moment. The wave of good intentions started to feel like a riptide.
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Parker Gillian laughed the first time a white co-worker sent her money unprompted. It was all she could do.
Since protests erupted last week over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Ms Gillian had been hearing from white acquaintances who wanted to check in on her wellbeing. There was a straightforward logic to it: she is a young black woman in Chicago and there is a civil rights movement playing out nationwide, on streets and on screens, with black people at its centre.
But some of the people who reached out were not especially close to her. And even those who were actually friends seemed to subtly ask for her guidance about how they, Good White Allies, should handle the moment. The wave of good intentions started to feel like a riptide.
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Labour's shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds has said the tearing down of Bristol's Edward Colston statue was "not acceptable", but that focus needs to remain on systemic discrimination in the UK.
Biden to meet with family of George Floyd
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday to meet privately with the family of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis last month while he was being detained by police.
Mr Biden will meet with the family of Mr Floyd in private so as not to disturb the funeral ceremony with extra security.
“Vice President Biden will travel to Houston Monday to express his condolences in-person to the Floyd family. He is also recording a video message for the funeral service,” a spokesman for the former vice president told CBS News on Sunday.
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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday to meet privately with the family of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis last month while he was being detained by police.
Mr Biden will meet with the family of Mr Floyd in private so as not to disturb the funeral ceremony with extra security.
“Vice President Biden will travel to Houston Monday to express his condolences in-person to the Floyd family. He is also recording a video message for the funeral service,” a spokesman for the former vice president told CBS News on Sunday.
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Man drives into crowd of protesters in Seattle then shoots demonstrator
A man drove his car into a crowd of protesters in Seattle on Sunday, then shot and wounded a demonstrator who confronted him as he came to a stop, according to police and eyewitness video.
Seattle police said firefighters took the man who was shot to the hospital and that he was in stable condition. No one else was injured, the police said.
The suspect was seen in the video exiting his car as protesters began to surround it. He brandished what appeared to be a gun, dashed through the crowd and turned himself over to police.
The incident was in contrast to the mostly peaceful weekend protests sparked by the death of George Floyd last month while in Minneapolis police custody.
Reuters
A man drove his car into a crowd of protesters in Seattle on Sunday, then shot and wounded a demonstrator who confronted him as he came to a stop, according to police and eyewitness video.
Seattle police said firefighters took the man who was shot to the hospital and that he was in stable condition. No one else was injured, the police said.
The suspect was seen in the video exiting his car as protesters began to surround it. He brandished what appeared to be a gun, dashed through the crowd and turned himself over to police.
The incident was in contrast to the mostly peaceful weekend protests sparked by the death of George Floyd last month while in Minneapolis police custody.
Reuters
AOC calls for defunding New York police
The call to defund police departments in the wake of the George Floyd protests has support from a high-profile voice in the US House of Representatives.
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voiced her support for reducing and redirecting police department funds as a way to address systemic racism and excessive use of force in law enforcement agencies.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez expressed her support during a debate on New York Spectrum News 1.
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The call to defund police departments in the wake of the George Floyd protests has support from a high-profile voice in the US House of Representatives.
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voiced her support for reducing and redirecting police department funds as a way to address systemic racism and excessive use of force in law enforcement agencies.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez expressed her support during a debate on New York Spectrum News 1.
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Republican senator and former presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Sunday attended a Black Lives Matter march through Washington DC.
“We need a voice against racism. We need many voices against racism and against brutality," he told reporters, adding: “We need to stand up and say black lives matter."
Barr defends clearing of protesters with 'pepper balls' and says no systemic racism in police forces
William Barr has defended the clearing of protesters from Lafayette Park in Washington DC through the use of “pepper balls” and denied that the use of force had anything to do with Donald Trump's photo-op with a Bible outside St John's Church that day.
Speaking with CBS News on Sunday, the US attorney general also said that he did not believe systemic racism is an issue in police forces.
The Trump administration has been heavily criticised for its response to protestors in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody, in particular the aggressive tactics of law enforcement outside the White House last Monday to clear Lafayette Park.
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William Barr has defended the clearing of protesters from Lafayette Park in Washington DC through the use of “pepper balls” and denied that the use of force had anything to do with Donald Trump's photo-op with a Bible outside St John's Church that day.
Speaking with CBS News on Sunday, the US attorney general also said that he did not believe systemic racism is an issue in police forces.
The Trump administration has been heavily criticised for its response to protestors in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody, in particular the aggressive tactics of law enforcement outside the White House last Monday to clear Lafayette Park.
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In the US overnight, Donald Trump spent time on Twitter railing against familiar grievances and perceived foes.
The president commented on the news that The New York Times opinion editor has resigned over the publication of an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton, who called for the possible involvement of the military in tackling protesters.
He has also gone back to a familiar complaint of a couple of years ago - and that is about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest against police violence against black people.
The president commented on the news that The New York Times opinion editor has resigned over the publication of an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton, who called for the possible involvement of the military in tackling protesters.
He has also gone back to a familiar complaint of a couple of years ago - and that is about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest against police violence against black people.
Policing minister Kit Malthouse has said the toppling in Bristol of the 17th century slave trader Edward Colston was "wrong" amd "an act of criminal damage", The Independent's political correspondent Lizzy Buchan reports.
Minneapolis lawmakers vow to disband police force
Two weeks after the killing of George Floyd at the knee of a police officer, a veto-proof majority of Minneapolis city councillors has committed to disbanding the police force.
The nine members of the 13-member council signed their pledge at a rally of protesters demanding that the police force be defunded. Speaking from the stage in Powderhorn Park, council president Lisa Bender said that the city needed a top-to-bottom rethink of what policing is and how it should work.
“Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our safe, and to tell the truth: that the Minneapolis police are not doing that.
Two weeks after the killing of George Floyd at the knee of a police officer, a veto-proof majority of Minneapolis city councillors has committed to disbanding the police force.
The nine members of the 13-member council signed their pledge at a rally of protesters demanding that the police force be defunded. Speaking from the stage in Powderhorn Park, council president Lisa Bender said that the city needed a top-to-bottom rethink of what policing is and how it should work.
“Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our safe, and to tell the truth: that the Minneapolis police are not doing that.
“Our commitment is to end our city’s toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department, to end policing as we know it, and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.”
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Boris Johnson says protests 'subverted by thuggery'
Boris Johnson has said anti-racism demonstrations in London were “subverted by thuggery” after some protesters clashed with police over the weekend.
The prime minister said people had the right to protest peacefully but those who clashed with police were “a betrayal of the cause they purpose to serve” - and would be held to account.
Thousands of people took part in demonstrations across the UK over the death of George Floyd in the US at the hands of a white police officer.
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Boris Johnson has said anti-racism demonstrations in London were “subverted by thuggery” after some protesters clashed with police over the weekend.
The prime minister said people had the right to protest peacefully but those who clashed with police were “a betrayal of the cause they purpose to serve” - and would be held to account.
Thousands of people took part in demonstrations across the UK over the death of George Floyd in the US at the hands of a white police officer.
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