The death of George Floyd has sent shockwaves around the world, the consequences rippling far beyond Minnesota where he died in police custody.
The 46-year-old African American’s death on May 25 was captured by onlookers on their phones.
Mr Floyd could be heard pleading for air and for his mother as a white police officer was seen kneeling on his neck.
One of the officers involved, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third degree murder and manslaughter and is due in court next week. Three other police officers have been fired.
In response, hundreds of protests and marches have taken place across the United States and the rest of the world.
But as people react to Mr Floyd’s death, there are concerns that protests could worsen the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide.
With black, Asian and ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by the virus, gathering in large numbers has been discouraged, the implication that infection numbers could soar as the country attempts to ease lockdown.
‘I think in Scotland in particular there is this mentality that racism doesn’t exist or racism isn’t a rife thing here, which isn’t the case.’
TAAHLIAH, protest organiser
In Scotland, activists are mindful of the challenges Covid-19 presents when trying to arrange protests in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
TAAHLIAH, a music producer and DJ from Glasgow, helped organise a protest planned in a ‘statement of solidarity’ with the US, as well as standing up for racism in her own country.
“I’m a black woman myself so I was really sort of stricken when I saw everything that was going on in America,” she said.
“I think in Scotland in particular there is this mentality that racism doesn’t exist or racism isn’t a rife thing here, which isn’t the case.
“We do need to talk about the racism that people face in Scotland in particular, because not a lot of people talk about it.”
‘All of us feel a very strong desire to stand in solidarity with those protesting racism and to make it clear that this is an evil that has no place in our society.’
Nicola Sturgeon, First MinisterThe First Minister has urged protestors to look for ways to send a “very strong and unequivocal message” safely, adding that racism “is an evil that has no place in our society”.
During Tuesday’s coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said: “What I would say to those who want to protest, and I say this as an ally and supporter, is that we need to find ways of allowing people to make their voices heard and to make the points that many of us want to be made and to be heard right now but to do so in a way that is safe and is not putting people protesting or wider communities at risk.”
She added: “Everybody, and I know people the length and breadth of the country and I include myself in this number, feel extremely strongly about these issues.
“Let me say none of us, no country, no society, is immune from racism and we all have issues to look in the mirror about and confront.
“All of us feel a very strong desire to stand in solidarity with those protesting racism and to make it clear that this is an evil that has no place in our society.”
Police Scotland chief constable Iain Livingstone has urged those planning to protest to continue following the Scottish Government’s coronavirus regulations.
He said: ”We are aware of a number of planned events in Scotland in the days ahead.
“We would encourage everyone to continue to follow the Scottish Government’s regulations and guidance on meeting outdoors and will engage with organisers to minimise any risks to public safety or health.”
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