A family-friendly street festival, musical performances and moments of silence were held on Tuesday to honour George Floyd and mark a year since he died at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The death was captured on a video that galvanised the racial justice movement and continues to bring calls for change in the US.
Floyd’s sister Bridgett and other family members held a moment of silence at a “Celebration of Life” event at a park in the Minneapolis city centre, which included music, food trucks, an inflatable bouncy castle and a vaccination stand.
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Protesters march on the Brooklyn Bridge during a demonstration on the first anniversary of the death of George Floyd, in New York. Reuters -
Some streets in Manhattan were closed due to the demonstrations on Tuesday evening. AP -
The musician Common performs with the Sounds of Blackness at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd's death in May 2020 led to worldwide protests and calls for police reform or abolition. Getty -
Robin Puttin leads a prayer while kneeling and raising her hand on the first anniversary of George Floyd's death, at George Floyd Square, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reuters -
Electric and LED candles bearing the names of people killed by police illuminate the fist sculpture as people gather at the George Floyd Square. Reuters -
A man is reflected in a sign during a vigil held to remember George Floyd in Lynn, Massachusetts. Reuters -
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets the family of the late George Floyd at the US Capitol in Washington. The family met President Joe Biden and various US politicians, and participated in a memorial at Black Lives Matter Plaza. EPA -
People gather at the sight where George Floyd was killed one year ago, at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis - an area now called George Floyd Square. EPA -
A man stands next to a mural of George Floyd in Houston, Texas. Reuters -
A family member holds onto Gianna Floyd, daughter of George Floyd, at the White House following their meeting with President Biden in Washington. Reuters -
Gianna Floyd and other family members and lawyers, raise fists after meeting President Biden in Washington. Reuters -
Community organiser Tommy McBrayer leads a chant in solidarity with George Floyd, at George Floyd Square, in Minneapolis. Reuters -
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Reverend Al Sharpton kneel with community leaders for nine minutes and 29 seconds, symbolising Floyd's ordeal at the hands of police. Reuters -
Philonise Floyd, brother to George Floyd, puts his arm around Speaker Nancy Pelosi, near Rep. Karen Bass, as he and other members of the Floyd family meet politicians at the US Capitol. Reuters -
A man places a candle at a memorial in honour of George Floyd, at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. Reuters -
Black Lives Matter protesters hold placards and shout slogans in Brooklyn, New York. AFP -
People gather at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. AP -
A man sits in front of the Say Their Names cemetery, close to George Floyd Square, in Minneapolis. AP -
Two women sit on a roof as they listen to a memorial music performance, at George Floyd Square, in Minneapolis. EPA
A few kilometres away, at the junction where Floyd died, dozens of people knelt around a steel fist sculpture for several minutes, symbolising the nine minutes and 29 seconds during which he was pinned down.
“It’s been a troubling year, a long year,” Bridgett Floyd told the crowd. “But we made it. The love is here. George is here.”
Other members of Floyd’s family went to Washington where they met President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who urged Congress to quickly pass a law in his name that would bring changes to policing.
A moment of silence to honour Floyd was also held in New York and a rally in Los Angeles.
A rally also took place in Germany and Floyd’s death was marked by US embassies in Greece and Spain.
Hours before the Minneapolis festivities, the intersection where Floyd died was disrupted by gunfire.
AP video from 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, informally known as George Floyd square, showed people running and seeking cover as the shots rang out.
Police said a person later appeared at a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound but it was not immediately clear if they were hurt in the incident.
There were as many as 30 gunshots about a block east of the junction, although calm soon returned, AP reported.
Like other major cities, Minneapolis has been struggling with rising gun violence, a problem made worse by many officers leaving the force since Floyd’s death.
A girl, 6, was fatally shot and two children wounded in recent weeks.
Mayor Jacob Frey last week unveiled a sweeping set of public safety proposals aimed at fixing the problem.
Other groups want a more radical remake of the police department.
The junction was barricaded soon after Floyd’s death and quickly turned into a memorial, It is also a challenging spot for the city, with police officers not always welcome.
Floyd, 46, who was black, died on May 25 last year after former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, pinning him to the ground for about nine and a half minutes.
Chauvin, who is white, was convicted last month of murder and will be sentenced on June 25. Three other fired officers are awaiting trial.
In New York City, elected officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries joined the Rev Al Sharpton in kneeling for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
“As we took a knee, imagine how long that was on a human being’s neck,” Mr Sharpton said.
“Never switched knees, just dug in. It’s time we correct policing in this country.”
Several of Floyd's family members, including his young daughter Gianna, met Mr Biden and Ms Harris at the White House.
Mr Biden said he was charmed by Gianna.
"She threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug and wanted to sit in my lap," he said. "She said, 'I'm really hungry. Do you have any snacks?'
"My wife would kill me. We gave her some ice cream. She had some Cheetos and I think she had some chocolate milk, I'm not sure."
Mr Biden, who previously pledged to continue fighting for racial justice, said he hoped the Senate could quickly pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and get it to his desk.
“We have to act,” he said of the legislation that would ban chokeholds and unannounced police raids, and create a national registry for officers disciplined for serious misconduct.
Floyd’s brother Philonise told CNN he thought about George all the time.
“My sister called me at 12 last night and said, ’This is the day our brother left us',” he said. “I think things have changed. I think it is moving slowly but we are making progress.”
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Shawanda Hill (R), the girlfriend of George Floyd reacts near the spot where he died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
A protester holds a sign while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Tear gas is fired as protesters clash with police while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Women hold signs while protesting near the area where a Minneapolis Police Department officer allegedly killed George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
A police car drives by as protesters clash with police while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
A protesters runs through tear gas while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Police dressed in tactical gear attempt to disperse crowds gathered to protest the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
People stand with raised fists as protesters march by while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Protesters march through the streets while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Police officers deploy to disperse protesters gathered for George Floyd in Minneapolis. AP -
Protesters and police face each other during a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis. AP -
Amy Gee of Minneapolis holds a sign near the scene of the arrest of George Floyd, who later died in police custody, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. EPA
