Several hundred people gathered in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square this afternoon in what was described as “Black Lives Matter Solidarity Protest.”

Protestors chanted “I can’t breath, black lives matter” and “no justice, no peace.”

A minute silence was observed to remember those who had “died in this war.”

Names of those killed by police in America were read out by members of the crowd.

Organiser Will Hunter said “the event was a protest against the senseless murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.”

“It is a protest against the war of police brutality against Black Americans and minorities.”

“It’s a message to the USA that the world is watching, and that we will not ignore the state-sanctioned murder of your citizens.”

“We show support for the protesters in America, fighting for their rights, and we ask for New Zealanders everywhere, from the Government to the person in the street, to not stand silent for racism. To speak up and speak out at racist behavior and treatment.”

“The aim of the protest is simple. we want to put pressure on our government from the local level, right up to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to publicly condemn the acts of violence and state-sanctioned murder against African Americans in the United States and tell Americans of all ethnicity that New Zealand stands in support of your rights and equality.”