France-Dozens protest at U.S. embassy in Paris in solidarity with George Floyd

A few dozen demonstrators knelt in silence and held signs in front of the U.S. embassy in Paris on Monday in solidarity with George Floyd, an African-American whose death in police custody last week has sparked unrest in the United States.

According to Reuters, Most dressed in black and wearing face masks due to the coronavirus crisis, the demonstrators held signs saying: “Racism is choking us,” “Justice for Floyd” and “I can’t breathe” – the last words Floyd gasped as a white officer knelt on his neck.

“George Floyd was a victim of a racist crime, a racist murder in the United States by a policeman,” said Dominique Sopo, head of French anti-racism group SOS Racisme which helped organise the protest.

In a statement, organisers urged widespread solidarity among anti-racist groups in France to denounce a crime that “unfortunately” was commonplace in the United States.