Shortly after protests seeking justice for George Floyd, an African American who was murdered during a police arrest, began in the United States, the people of Germany also began to protest to show solidarity with the Americans. Many also called on the German police to address its own racist practices and use of violence.[1][2]
People protested in over 40 cities and in all 16 states.
Protests
Police and protestors in Berlin
Most of the protests in Germany sparked by the murder of George Floyd were held on 6 June. On that day, in more than 30 cities the combined number of participants exceeded 100,000.[citation needed] In addition, 93 arrests made that day had been reported by the media, and at least two Black[a] protestors had been sent to the hospital. The local Black Lives Matter movement claimed this was due to police brutality.[3]
Baden-Württemberg
Freiburg im Breisgau: Around 10,000 people protested at Platz der Alten Synagoge on 6 June.[4]
Karlsruhe: Around 4,000 people took part at two demonstrations at Friedrichsplatz and at Schlossplatz on 6 June.[4]
Konstanz: Around 1,000 people protested on 6 June.[4]
On 6 June, a protest against police brutality and racism took place. Thousands participated in a moment of silence to remember Floyd. Minor violence sparked from some protesters.[5][6]
The following week, in Bad Cannstatt, about 2000 people peacefully protested against racism and hate, under the motto "Solidarity with George Floyd".[b][7] The protest was held in Bad Cannstatt to provide enough space for the practice of pandemic protocols.[7] According to the police, social distancing was observed during the demonstration.[7]
Tübingen: Around 1,000 people protested at Holzmarkt on 6 June.[4]
Around 1,000 people protested on the Mainwiesen on 5 June.[8]
Around 800 people protested on 6 June in the city of Würzburg.[8]
Berlin
Protestors in Berlin holding up signsProtestors at AlexanderplatzAt a protest in BerlinProtestors at the Brandenburg Gate
Thousands of people protested in Berlin on 30 May. Many gathered in front of the US Embassy, chanting "black lives matter."[14] On 6 June, over 15,000 gathered at Alexanderplatz before its closure to new arrivals, joining in a protest that ended in mild violence and a currently unknown number of arrests.[15][16]
Brandenburg
Potsdam: About 50 to 60 people protested against police brutality on Brandenburger Straße [de; fr] in the city center.[17] The protest was unregistered, and police were dispatched to the location.[17]
Bremen
Bremen: About 2,500 protesters showed up to a peaceful protest on 2 June.[18]
Bremerhaven: Around 200 people protested against racism in memory of Floyd. Protestors also observed 8′46″ of silence.[19]
Hamburg
On 5 June, around 4,500 people attended a protest outside the US Consulate along the banks of the Alster River.[20] Around 14,000 people peacefully protested on 6 June. Afterwards the police and a group of protesters clashed marginally together, up to 35 protesters were arrested.[21][22]
A mural depicting Floyd was painted in Berlin's Mauerpark, on a section of the Berlin Wall, a day after the video of Floyd's murder spread on social media.[51][50]
ChancellorAngela Merkel called the murder of George Floyd a "very very terrible thing", and also condemned racism as "something terrible".[54][55] Merkel also noted that she tried "to bring people together, to seek reconciliation", but that US President Trump's "political style is a very controversial one".[55]
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated that "[t]he peaceful protests that we see in the US, involving many moving gestures, including by American police officers, are understandable and more than legitimate", adding that he hoped the protests had an impact and did not turn violent.[56][57]
Celebrities
Borussia Mönchengladbach football player Marcus Thuram took a knee and bowed his head for a few seconds after scoring a goal.[51] His coach Marco Rose stated that Thuram's sign against racism was "one we all completely support of course".[51]
Borussia Dortmund football player Jadon Sancho removed his jersey after scoring a goal to reveal a shirt with the words "Justice For George Floyd" written on it.[51][58] He received a yellow card for the move.[51]
Federal government reaction to anti-journalist violence
While reporting from Minneapolis, Deutsche Welle's Stefan Simons and his crew were shot at by police in two separate incidents and threatened with arrest in a third incident.[59][60][56]
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who had been made aware of the incidents, stated that "[j]ournalists must be able to carry out their task, which is independent coverage of events, without endangering their safety".[56] He added that "[d]emocratic states under the rule of law have to meet the highest standards when it comes to protecting freedom of press", and criticized violence directed toward working journalists.[56][57][non-primary source needed]
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