Liam Payne, 26, and girlfriend Maya Henry, 19, throw support behind Black Live Matter movement as they arrive in Hyde Park for London protests
- The One Direction singer, 26, and the Instagram star, 19, held hands as they joined thousands of protesters marching in response to George Floyd’s death
- Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his head for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, prompting a wave of protests
- Fellow star John Boyega was also protesting in London while Liam’s bandmate Harry Styles joined a legion of stars protesting in Los Angeles
Liam Payne and his girlfriend Maya Henry were seen attending the Black Lives Matter protest in London’s Hyde Park on Wednesday.
The One Direction singer, 26, and the Instagram star, 19, held hands as they joined thousands of protesters marching in response to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis last week.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died last Monday after a white police officer knelt on his head for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, prompting a wave of protests.
Staying strong: Liam Payne and his girlfriend Maya Henry were seen attending the Black Lives Matter protest in London’s Hyde Park on Wednesday
Liam and Maya cut solemn figures as they made their way through the crowd.
Fellow star John Boyega was also protesting in London while Liam’s bandmate Harry Styles joined a legion of stars protesting in Los Angeles.
A medical examiner’s office on Monday ruled that Floyd’s death was a homicide as they appeared to walk back initial reports that he wasn’t strangled.
The examiner’s findings that the death was a homicide by asphyxiation confirmed the same conclusion of the independent autopsy that was also released on Monday, but there are key differences over the cause.
Great loss: The One Direction singer, 26, and the Instagram star, 19, held hands as they joined thousands of protesters marching in response to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis last week
Helping out: The duo stood alongside a host of Londoners during the protest
Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis police department over the incident, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Floyd’s death roiled the globe and has sparked mass protests against police brutality across the nation – with the rows arriving in London on Wednesday.
On Monday, Liam used his platform to tell his followers: ‘It’s not enough to just say that Black Lives Matter: all of us can and must do more in order to make that statement a reality as soon as possible.
‘Let’s make this ‘new normal’ after Coronavirus one in which Black people are not persecuted for living their daily lives in the same way everyone else is privileged to do so.’
Throwing support: Liam and Maya cut solemn figures as they made their way through the crowd
Stepping out: The duo wore matching all-black outfits for the event
Getting political: Liam used his platform to speak out and condemn racism and injustice in all forms, and urge his followers to ‘be better people’
Throwing his support: John Boyega made his presence known with an impassioned speech
After suggesting ways for people to make a difference, he added: ‘Let me be very clear, injustice comes in many forms around the world: nobody because of race, gender, sexuality, religion or belief, should suffer discrimination.
‘This gives us pause for thought to be better people, and to treat everyone with the respect that they deserve.
‘My condolences to George Floyd’s family and to the many others who have lost loved ones in these tragic circumstance. Again Black Lives Matter. Stay safe and take care.’
Black Lives Matter, which was first founded in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman and was nationally recognized for its involvement in the Ferguson protests in 2014 has been galvanized once more following the death of Floyd.
Supportive: The couple stood strong with thousands in the capital
Joining together: They walked through the crowd in incognito style