Protests have been rallying across the United States since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis.
Anger poured through communities as video of Floyd’s last moments began circulating in May. Floyd was pleading for help as he was pinned down, saying he couldn’t breathe.
The incident recalls the 2014 death of Eric Garner, who uttered the words “I can’t breathe” while in an officer’s chokehold in New York. Since Garner’s death, the phrase has become a rallying cry in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Floyd’s death has reignited a national conversation about race, police brutality, and social injustice. There have been calls to defund the police, and protesters have been tearing down statues of men who once championed or traded in slavery.
The demonstrations have been largely peaceful; however, some cities have seen instances of violence, with protesters clashing with police and stores being looted and burned.
In Atlanta, weeks after Floyd’s death, protesters set fire to a fast-food restaurant where police fatally shot Rayshard Brooks on June 12. Brooks’ shooting led to a police officer being fired and the police chief resigning.
NASCAR drivers, pit crew members, and others show their support for Bubba Wallace as they walk alongside his No. 43 car before a Cup Series race in Talladega, Alabama, on June 22. Wallace, the only Black driver in NASCAR’s top circuit, has been an outspoken advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement and the corresponding protests against racism and police brutality.
The protests, ignited by the tragic events surrounding George Floyd’s death, signify a broader movement demanding justice, equality, and deep systemic change within America’s social and political framework. As the momentum continues, public discourse surrounding race relations and police conduct remains critical in shaping future legislation and community standards.
