For nine minutes, they knelt.
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Spread out on the lawns in front of Parliament House, several hundred protesters, many wearing masks, were silent for the amount of time it took for George Floyd to be killed at the hands of police in the US state of Minnesota.
As protests calling for an end to black and Indigenous deaths in custody have spread globally, Canberrans assembled for a second time this week on Saturday afternoon.
Ngambri-Ngunnawal woman Leah House told the crowd Mr Floyd's death had ignited a flame globally.
"It's got everyone paying attention and listening. I have mixed feelings but, all in all, it's deadly. We need to keep that same energy here in Australia," Ms House said.
Ms House called on demonstrators to know the names of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died in custody in Australia.
More than 430 have died in police custody since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
"And while we stood here yesterday and I spoke about the number 432, I said that the number 433 is out there right now. And so is 434 and 435. And they're not just numbers. While we were doing that, 433 was taken from us," Ms House said.
"Over in Western Australia, a 40-year-old man. We don't have many details of the circumstances of his death right now, but I just want to bring that home to everybody here." Ms House said there should be "no confusion why First Nations people are so outraged right now".
"This little bubble that Canberra lives in, youse need to pop it. It's happening here on our country, too. You know George Floyd's name. Now go learn all our brothers' and sisters' names, because they are just as deserving," she said.
"We are standing here in solidarity and unity with all our brothers and sisters across the globe right now. Let's not leave here today and let that energy die."
Kenya Matsebula told the assembly the strong attendance at protests showed the majority of people thought racism was terrible and the government was scared of democracy.
"The police are lined up here today - look at them - they're in front of Parliament House. What is it that they're protecting?" Ms Matsebula asked the crowd to loud cheers and shouts of "shame".
"They're not protecting freedom, they're not protecting rights. They're certainly not protecting women from sexual assault."
Protest organiser Dheiu Mading told the crowd their job was not finished after they turned up.
"This is only the beginning," Mr Mading said.
"As I say to my housemate, death is certain. But the certainty of death should not be predicated on your skin colour.
"My parents did not walk through three countries with me on their back so that I can look the other way when injustices are being committed. I was born in the middle of a war. We know what a bad day looks like.
"Police brutality is unacceptable, ladies and gentlemen. And the reason why it is happening is because good people have not stood up for justice.
"For far too long, police brutality happens because we look the other way. We do not demand the best of our leaders. Police brutality does not happen in a vacuum, ladies and gentlemen."
Mr Mading encouraged the crowd to tackle racism when they saw it in their families and calling out their relatives.
"For far too long, good people have been too silent. They've looked the other way, ladies and gents," he said.
"It's time for us all to feel heard, to stand up for what is right. To stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves."
Mr Mading said he had to let the police know he was holding the protest.
"I'm holding a protest, for crying out loud. This is a protest, I'm not here to make their day good, ladies and gentlemen," he said.
It prompted an unplanned march, taking in a loop from Parliament House to Old Parliament House while chanting: "No justice. No peace. No racist police."
Police blocked off roads to allow the peaceful march to pass. Organisers said no arrests were made.