MORE than 600 organisations united with George Floyd’s family in  demanding United Nations investigations into police violence and the racist oppression of protests currently sweeping the US.

Mr Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, said: “I want people across the world and the leaders in the United Nations to see the video of my brother George Floyd, to listen to his cry for help, and I want them to answer his cry.”

He was joined by relatives of Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile and Michael Brown, black people also killed by police, in releasing a statement pleading for action from the international body to deal with a “human rights crisis” in the US.

Backed by the American Civil Liberties Union and US Human Rights Network, it demanded that the UN probes the escalation of police violence against peaceful protests, which has included “the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray and in some cases live ammunition in violation of international standards on the use of force and management of assemblies.”

They hit out at US President Donald Trump who “rather than using his position to serve as a force for calm and unity … has chosen to weaponise tension through his rhetoric,” including plans to send the army onto the streets against protesters.

The families warned that the violence was in danger of “diverting the gaze of the global community away from the pain being expressed from a nation in mourning.

“The voice of the demonstrators must be heard. Their demand is that the endemic racism, hatred, fear and disparity is finally confronted.”

Police officer Derek Chauvin appeared in court on Monday charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Bail was set at $1.25 million (£980,000) based on “the severity of the charges.”

Mr Floyd was laid to rest in a private funeral today.