George Floyd

Breonna Taylor

Michael Brown

When African American George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, by a White Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer while other officers passively looked on, what ensued were the largest, longest, and most intense protests against police brutality and racism the world had ever witnessed. Thanks to a well-coordinated social media blitz by the organization Black Lives Matter and major news outlets relentlessly reporting the story, what followed were visible and memorable responses demanding change emanating from more than 60 countries.

With the massive protests and news coverage, many felt a paradigm shift and watershed moment had arrived that would stem the tide of racism and police brutality with concerted efforts for major change. There was hope – in many circles of America – that the power structure of policing and legislative bodies – on local and national levels - perhaps could finally agree that Black lives mattered in America.

See BLACK LIVES MATTER page A2

Sandra Bland

Rodney King