Hundreds of protestors gathered in Regent Circus this afternoon to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests taking place around the world.
Many people wore gloves and masks at the socially distanced event held outside of the old Morrisons supermarket.
Swindon was just one of a number of protests that have been planned across the country after civil unrest erupted in America following the death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25th, after complaining he could not breathe as a police officer knelt on his neck whist he was in handcuffs after being held on suspicion of trying to use a forged $20.
Police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. He is due to appear in court next week.
Mr Floyd’s death has prompted days of protest in the US and across the UK.
One of the protesters, John Price of Stratton said: “I wasn’t expecting this many people to turn out, the support in Swindon for this protest is pretty amazing.
“All of these awesome people, of all ages standing together for the same cause, its impressive.”
In a statement, the chief constables, the chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the chief executive of the College of Policing and the president of the Police Superintendents’ Association said: “We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life. Justice and accountability should follow.”
