Protests that started in solidarity with George Floyd — a Black man murdered by a white police officer on camera on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota — grew into a global uprising against racial injustice in a matter of weeks.
While police forces doubled down on violent tactics to contain demonstrations across the US, the Black Lives Matter movement continued to gain international momentum. Thousands of protesters have filled the streets in every continent except Antarctica. As citizens call for action, some leaders are responding to the pressure with commitments to change by disbanding the police, redirecting budgets to youth and social services, and reforming police departments.
Structural barriers cause people of African descent to face widespread exclusion and poverty no matter where they live. Protesters across the world are echoing the outcry to end police brutality in the US and demanding justice for Black people, Indigenous groups, and communities of color in their own countries. They are risking contracting COVID-19 and experiencing police violence to encourage a collective reckoning of racial disparities in access to education, health care, wealth, and more. These gaps in resources and opportunities must be addressed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030 and achieve the United Nations’ Global Goals.
The global scale of protests demanding peace and protections for all Black people, Indigenous peoples, and people of color illustrates the need to dismantle systemic racial injustices everywhere at an institutional level to build a sustainable future for all.
See how the marches evolved below.
Tuesday, May 26
Floyd’s murder ignited protests in Minneapolis, where police officers used tear gas and stun grenades to break up the crowds chanting for police accountability.
A protester sits atop a vehicle as hundreds of protesters gather, near the site of the arrest of George Floyd who died in police custody Monday night in Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. A video taken by a bystander showed a white officer kneeling on his neck.
A protester sits atop a vehicle as hundreds of protesters gather, near the site of the arrest of George Floyd who died in police custody Monday night in Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. A video taken by a bystander showed a white officer kneeling on his neck during his arrest as he pleaded that he couldn't breathe.
Wednesday, May 27
The Los Angeles protest organized by the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles chapter demanded justice for Floyd and for all police officers who use excessive force to be prosecuted. Organizers reminded marchers of Black men killed by Los Angeles police officers in recent years.
Demonstrators shut down the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles during a protest, May 27, 2020, over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis earlier in the week.
Demonstrators shut down the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles during a protest, May 27, 2020, over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis earlier in the week.
Thursday, May 28
Following a day of peaceful demonstrations in Minneapolis, protesters set the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building on fire after prosecutors announced a verdict had not yet been reached on whether or not Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed Floyd by pressing his knee to his neck for over eight minutes, would be charged.
Demonstrators join hands Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.
Demonstrators join hands Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.
Protesters demonstrate outside of a burning fast food restaurant, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Protesters demonstrate outside of a burning fast food restaurant, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Friday, May 29
Demonstrations in the US grew in numbers, drawing attention to several Black Americans killed weeks and days apart from Floyd.
Protesters kneel in the middle of the street to block traffic as they protest the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, May 29, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. Breonna Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by police in her home in March.
Protesters kneel in the middle of the street to block traffic as they protest the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, May 29, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. Breonna Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by police in her home in March.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles.
Washington, DC
Washington, DC.
New York
New York.
Oakland
Oakland.
Washington, DC
Washington, DC.
Saturday, May 30
Protests continued in cities across the US and police violence against protesters escalated.
Police detain a protester during a solidarity rally for George Floyd, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in New York.
Police detain a protester during a solidarity rally for George Floyd, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in New York.
Demonstrators kneel before police Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Demonstrators kneel before police Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Minneapolis.
Sunday, May 31
By May 31, protesters in 75 cities across the US were calling for policy changes to break down systemic racism. National Guard troops posted up in more than 20 states and mayors in cities across the country started imposing curfews.
Long Beach
Long Beach.
Minneapolis
Minneapolis.
Minneapolis
Minneapolis.
Businesses anticipating destruction boarded up their shop windows and public scrutiny rose as police violently targeted the press.
Worldwide protests continued gaining traction. In London, England, thousands gathered for Floyd in protest despite stay-at-home orders, and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, hundreds took a stand to stop police brutality against Black Brazilians.
Monday, June 1
Police officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up peaceful protests by the White House in Washington, DC.
Demonstrators kneel in front of a line of police officers during a protest for the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, near the White House in Washington, DC.
Demonstrators kneel in front of a line of police officers during a protest for the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, near the White House in Washington, DC.
Tuesday, June 2
Protesters chanted for the removal of a statue honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia.
In this photo taken with a drone, a large group of protesters gather around the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue near downtown, June 2, 2020, in Richmond, Va. The crowd protesting police brutality chanted "Tear it down."
In this photo taken with a drone, a large group of protesters gather around the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue near downtown, June 2, 2020, in Richmond, Va. The crowd protesting police brutality chanted "Tear it down."
Health care workers united to honor Floyd in New York City’s Times Square.
Protesters in Tel Aviv, Israel honored Floyd and police brutality victims in Israel.
Marchers in Sydney, Australia, rallied in support of Black Lives Matter and called for the country to stop imprisoning Indigenous people at disproportionately higher rates than anyone else.
Wednesday, June 3
Protesters continue to mourn and pay tribute to Floyd with vigils and memorials across the US.
Protesters rally at Washington Square Park before marching, June 3, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd.
Protesters rally at Washington Square Park before marching, June 3, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd.
A protester waves a city of Chicago flag emblazoned with the acronym BLM for Black Lives Matter, outside the Batavia, Ill., City Hall during a protest over the death of George Floyd, on June 3, 2020.
A protester waves a city of Chicago flag emblazoned with the acronym BLM for Black Lives Matter, outside the Batavia, Ill., City Hall during a protest over the death of George Floyd, on June 3, 2020.
Friday, June 5
Demonstrators throughout the US celebrated the birthday of Breonna Taylor, a Black American woman who would’ve turned 27 on June 5, had she not been killed by Louisville police on March 13.
A man holds a photograph of Breonna Taylor on her birthday as he kneels with other protesters on during a rally for George Floyd on June 5, 2020, in the Brooklyn, New York. Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by police in her home in March.
A man holds a photograph of Breonna Taylor on her birthday as he kneels with other protesters on during a rally for George Floyd on June 5, 2020, in the Brooklyn, New York. Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by police in her home in March and Floyd, a black man, died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
Saturday, June 6 & Sunday, June 7
Protests and acts of solidarity continued to take place around the world. Protesters in Bristol, England toppled a monument celebrating slave trader Edward Colston.
Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Italy
Rome, Italy
Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
England
Bristol, England
Monday, June 8
Up to 200 people in Nairobi, Kenya marched against the rise of police brutality amid curfews set to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Protesters gather against police brutality, in the Mathare settlement, of Nairobi, Kenya, June 8, 2020. The protest against police brutality in Kenya was in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and in response to the recent killing of George Floyd.
Protesters gather against police brutality, in the Mathare settlement, of Nairobi, Kenya, June 8, 2020. The protest against police brutality in Kenya was in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and in response to the recent killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, USA, that has led to protests in many countries and across the US.
Friday, June 12
During the 2016 National Football League (NFL) preseason, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to draw attention to police brutality against Black Americans and other racial injustices. Kaepernick continued kneeling throughout the season, despite receiving criticism for protesting.
In the wake of protests in solidarity with Floyd, the NFL issued an apology for previously condemning protests against racial inequality on the field. Football and rugby teams around the world honored the symbolic gesture by kneeling before games.
Saturday, June 13
About 3,500 protesters joined a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan calling for an end to racial discrimination and police brutality.
The murder of Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black American by a white police officer in Atlanta, Georgia on June 12, sparked protests to call for an end to Georgia's citizen's arrest law that allows anyone to make an arrest if they witness a crime.
Sunday, June 14
Following the murders of two trans women — Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Riah Milton, 25, of Cincinnati, Ohio — tens of thousands of people wearing white in solidarity joined protests in the US.