The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will on Monday lead a National Day of Action protest in solidarity with African Americans who were protesting against the violent killings of black people by police in the US.

The protest will take place at 09:00 for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in front of the American Embassy, in Pretoria led by EFF president Julius Malema, at the US Consulate General, in Sandton led by EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu and in Cape Town led by EFF national chairperson Veronica Mente.

A wave of protests were triggered in the US and worldwide following the death of African American man George Floyd at the hands of US police.

“We call for peaceful demonstrations by all South Africans in demand from the USA for justice and structural change of their racist law enforcement agencies,” said the EFF.

The EFF urged that its demonstration be done safely and responsibly in light of the enduring coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which posed a significant health risk.

The party said the protest must be done under Level 3 regulations and physical distancing rules.

“We call on all South Africans to take to main roads and police stations across the country and take a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which is the amount of time the racist murderer Derek Chauvin placed his knee firmly on the throat of George Floyd leading to his death,” the party said.

The EFF also highlighted the killing of Collins Khosa by members of the South African National Defence Force. The party also reiterated the deaths of the miners who were killed in the infamous Marikana Massacre and called the event a “consistent anti-black attitude across the very fabric of law-enforcement across the world”.

The EFF criticised the lack of protests across the African continent in support of African Americans and said most countries have protested.

“Africa must take a stand and defend Africans in the diaspora who face violence that dates back to when they were stolen from the continent and sold across the Atlantic,” said the EFF.