Equality protests rage across Asia and Europe

Thousands marched and sometimes fought in cities around the world for a second week during the weekend to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to highlight problems in their own countries.

Several hundred people marched peacefully around a Tokyo park yesterday, highlighting the outrage over the death of George Floyd even in a country often perceived as homogeneous and untouched by racial issues.

Participant Mio Kosaka said she had been a victim of discrimination while growing up in Beijing and Tokyo as her parents were Japanese and Chinese.

"I wanted to relay the message that the American people have allies in Japan," she said.

In Seoul, US embassy staff draped a huge Black Lives Matter banner on the mission.

"The US embassy stands in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change," they tweeted.

American ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris retweeted the message and added: "USA is a free and diverse nation from that diversity we gain our strength."

Hundreds gathered in a Taipei park with some holding signs with slogans such as "This is a movement, not a moment."

In New Zealand, thousands protested in Auckland and Wellington.

The Auckland protest began at the central Aotea Square and ended at the US consulate.

In Australia, thousands turned out in several cities for a second weekend despite official warnings that demonstrations would undermine the country's success in suppressing the coronavirus.

The biggest was in the Western Australian capital, Perth.

Many demonstrators carried signs such as "Stop deaths in custody" and "White Australia stop lying to yourselves," highlighting the deaths of more than 400 indigenous people in custody in 30 years.

Smaller protests for aboriginal rights were held in Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, and towns in neighboring Queensland - both regions with numerous indigenous communities.

In London, far-right protesters clashed with police in the city center after gathering to counter an anti-racism march.

Agitators threw punches, bottles and smoke bombs at police officers as well as at rivals.

There were also clashes in Paris and the southeast French city of Lyon.

Masses marched in Switzerland, with the largest rally in Zurich, where 10,000 people turned out. Police said one officer was hurt after a few hundred hard-left activists began throwing projectiles.

Germany saw several rallies but without trouble.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS