Justice for George Floyd: how to sign the Change.org petition in solidarity with Black Lives Matters - and other ways you can show support

A new petition calling for Justice for George Floyd has become the most popular petition in the history of the Change.org website

A young boy raises his fist for a photo during a demonstration in Atlanta, Georgia (Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

“We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately,” says the petition.

“Please help us get justice for George and his family!”

Protesters confront police outside the 3rd Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Here’s everything you need to know:

What are the petition’s aims?

According to an update posted to the petition on 29 May, the “biggest Change.org US petition of all time” is “working”, after one of the four men responsible for the “horrific murder” [Derek Chauvin] was reprimanded and placed into custody

“[Minnesota] District Attorney Mike Freeman needs to hear from us now to make sure the other three involved officers are held accountable.”

How many people have signed the petition?

The petition has attracted tens of millions of signatures, with support growing rapidly.

At the time of writing, the total number of signatories stands at over 17 million.

How can I sign the petition?Signing the petition is simple.

Just head to Change.org, where you’ll be able to add your name to the ever growing list.

The organisers are asking for people to send in a quick video on why you signed the petition and what justice for George Floyd would mean to you.

Here are the guidelines:

- Videos should be no more than 30 seconds

- If you use your phone, make sure you record horizontally

- Simply answer this: What would justice for George Floyd mean to you?

- You don't have to say your name/location

This step is entirely optional. There are also option to contribute funds to furthering the cause.

Please send your video as soon as possible, before 3pm ET (8pm BST) on Saturday 6 June, to [email protected].

How else can I help?

Signing the petition isn’t the only way of lending your support to the cause, and there are also a number of places at which donations will be appreciated.

- Help the family of George Floyd HERE

- Fight for Breonna Taylor HERE

- Help the family of Ahmaud Arbery HERE

- Want to help protesters? Donate to one or more community bail funds HERE

- Visit Movement For Black Lives for additional ways you can help the cause

- Want to connect with leaders building grass roots campaigns? Click HERE

- Are you an ally and want to learn more? Here are some anti-racism resources

Who was George Floyd?

The death of George Floyd – and the subsequent protests rocking America – has caused uproar throughout the world, drawing attention back to the vast systemic racial injustices within society.

On 25 May, Floyd – an African-American man – was handcuffed and lying face down on a city street as white American Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on the right side of his neck.

Chauvin’s knee remained there for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, despite Floyd’s repeated pleas of “I can’t breathe” – 2 minutes and 53 seconds of that time occurred after Floyd became unresponsive. He died in custody.

The fallout from this most awful of racially aggravated events has been far reaching, with dramatic clashes between protesters and police forces across many American cities over the past week.

As racial injustice rears its ugly head once again, demonstrations have been seen in countries across the world, despite much of the planet still under some form of lockdown from coronavirus.