Austrians hold massive anti-racism demonstration in Vienna

Protesters attend a Black Lives Matter march in Vienna, Austria, on June 4, 2020, in solidarity with protests raging across the US over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died during an arrest on May 25. (Photo by AFP)


This is a massive demonstration in Vienna to denounce racism and police violence, ten days after the world witnessed how an American police officer took the life of a black man George Floyd by kneeling on his neck as he pleaded he could not breathe.

Demonstrators say one of the most urgent messages of the Black Lives Matter movement is to break the silence that is perpetuating injustice. Protesters spoke out against the covert racism within European societies.

Activists say acknowledging white privilege and recognizing racism is key.

Organizers were initially planning a gathering, but the sheer number of people led to a spontaneous and peaceful march.

The march started from the memorial site of Marcus Omofuma, a Nigerian man killed by Austrian police as he was being deported in 1999.

Ironically, Omofuma died because he was gagged in a flight and could not breath. His death has become a symbol for anti-racist movements in Austria and around the world. More than 20 years on, the wounds are still raw.