George Floyd death: Seismic day in US as accused murderers face court, Black Lives Matter protests rage on

Warning: This video contains disturbing scenes of police brutality.

Civil rights activists have blamed the death of unarmed African-American man George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer on a pandemic of racism.

A memorial service for Floyd prompted calls for a new generation of US citizens to bring change to the country.

Ten days after he was killed at the hands of police, George Floyd's family, friends and others who never knew him came together.

They gathered to grieve and ensure his death is not in vain.

"What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, in health services, and in every area of American life!" civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton said.

"It's time for us to stand up in George's name and say 'get your knee off our necks!'"

George Floyd's brother vows to fight for justice.

"Everybody wants justice," Philonise Floyd said. "We want justice for George. He's going to get it. He's going to get it."

Despite four officers facing charges over his death, there are still daily scenes of police brutality against protesters. 

In New York on Thursday night (local time), as the city's curfew came into effect, an elderly man was violently shoved by officers.

The footage shows police doing nothing as a soldier rushes in to help the man, who's bleeding from his ears. 

He's reported to be in a serious but stable condition, and the two officers responsible have been suspended .

An investigation is also underway in Long Beach, California over a disturbing photo of an officer pointing his weapon, hand on trigger, at a man carrying his two-year-old son. 

In Washington DC, soldiers continue to line the streets, creating a barricade between demonstrators and the White House. 

Their anger was directed not just at police, but at US President Donald Trump, just a few hundred metres away. 

At the same time protests rage over the death of George Floyd, a court's heard shocking evidence about the killing of another black man. 

Ahmaud Arbery was shot three times while out jogging in February, and on Thursday an investigator revealed how one of the three men accused of his murder, Travis McMichael, stood over his body and called him the N-word. 

As stories like those of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd continue to shock the world, it's becoming clear that the US is at a tipping point. 

The Duchess of Sussex called on the graduating class of her old high school in Los Angeles to be the generation of change. 

"You are going to use your voice in a stronger way than you've ever been able to, because most of you are 18 - or you're going to turn 18 - so you're going to vote," she said.

A resurgence of the civil rights movement from decades past - it's a chance to implement change, for a future that's for everyone.