
The outrage generated by Floyd's death in Minneapolis last month has resonated in France as a wave of anger continued to sweep the world following the death of African American George Floyd.
The protesters gathered in Place de la Republique in Paris and chanted "No justice, no peace" beneath the statue of Marianne, who personifies the French Republic. One banner held by the crowd read: "I hope I don’t get killed for being black today".
Police refused organisers permission to march to the Opera House. The first clashes erupted after three hours of peaceful gathering. Some protesters hurled bottles, paving stones and bicycle wheels at police lines and one Orange outlet was vandalised. Organisers urged protesters with children to leave.
Assa Traore, sister of 24-year-old Adama Traore, who died near Paris in 2016 after police detained him, addressed Saturday's protest.
"The death of George Floyd has a strong echo in the death in France of my little brother," she said. "What's happening in the United States is happening in France. Our brothers are dying."
Traore's family say he was asphyxiated when three officers held him down with the weight of their bodies. Authorities say the cause of his death is unclear.
Earlier this week, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner acknowledged there were "proven suspicions of racism" within French law enforcement agencies.
Protests took place in other countries on Saturday, including in several Australian cities, Taipei, Zurich and London.
With inputs from Reuters)