Photo Essay: Looking Back at 10 Days in 2020 of Fervent Non-stop Protests for George Floyd
As cellphone video documenting the last breaths of George Floyd spread across the internet, so did the collective outrage.
For 10 consecutive days after his murder at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day in 2020, protests erupted across the U.S., not just in major cities but suburbs and small towns, too.
Five years later, the Justice Department under President Donald Trump has canceled a settlement with Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, to reform their police departments.
“It’s a symbolic nod from the state to police departments around the nation that they can continue discriminating and abusing Black people without worry,” the Movement for Black Lives said in remarks exclusive to The Associated Press. “So while they attempt to rollback our wins and erase our history, we will continue to care for one another … so we can keep working toward our vision of freedom and liberation that this administration fears.”
Images from that time show how the risks of a still raging pandemic did not deter demonstrators. Some marched. Others kneeled. Many referenced Floyd’s final words: “I can’t breathe.” His face and “Black Lives Matter” became avatars on signs, streets and public buildings.
Some police officers faced down protesters with riot gear while others knelt in solidarity.
In one image that perfectly encapsulates the tension, a police officer and a protester — both Black — clasp their hands in the middle of a standoff during a New York City rally for justice for Floyd.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York.
Philadelphia police and national guard kneel at the suggestion of police deputy commissioner melvin singleton, unseen, outside police headquarters in philadelphia, monday, june 1, 2020, during a march calling for justice over the death of george floyd. (ap photo/matt rourke, file)A protester carries a u. S. Flag upside down, a sign of distress, next to a burning building in minneapolis, on thursday, may 28, 2020, during protests over the death of george floyd. (ap photo/julio cortez, file)Police use chemical irritants and crowd control munitions to disperse protesters during a demonstration in portland, ore. , saturday, sept. 5, 2020. (ap photo/noah berger, file)Demonstrators kneel during a solidarity protest for george floyd, saturday, june 13, 2020, in west point, n. Y. (ap photo/eduardo munoz alvarez, file)Protesters and residents watch as police in riot gear walk down a residential street in st. Paul, minn. , on thursday, may 28, 2020, amid protests over the death of george floyd. (ap photo/john minchillo, file)An officer swings a baton as demonstrators clash with police near the white house in washington, on saturday, may 30, 2020, during a protest against the death of george floyd. (ap photo/evan vucci, file)Motorists are ordered to the ground from their vehicle by police on south washington street in minneapolis on sunday, may 31, 2020, during a protest following the death of george floyd. (ap photo/john minchillo, file)A demonstrator is arrested as police attempt to take control of the streets in portland, ore. , on saturday, sept. 5, 2020, as protests reached 100 consecutive nights since george floyd was killed. (ap photo/paula bronstein, file)Police officers surround a group of people outside radio city music hall in new york, monday, june 1, 2020, before arresting them during protests against the death of george floyd. (ap photo/seth wenig, file)A protester is doused with a liquid to help neutralize the effects of tear gas fired by police outside the minneapolis 5th police precinct, saturday, may 30, 2020, in minneapolis, as protests continued following the death of george floyd. (ap photo/john minchillo, file)People attend a rally outside jackson square in new orleans, friday, june 5, 2020, protesting the death of george floyd. (ap photo/gerald herbert, file)Retired marine todd winn, wearing a mask which reads “i can’t breathe,” participates in a protest in front of the utah state capitol in salt lake city on friday, june 5, 2020, amid protests around the world in the wake of the death of george floyd. (ap photo/rick bowmer, file)People rally in houston on tuesday, june 2, 2020, to protest the death of george floyd. (ap photo/david j. Phillip, file)A protester and a police officer clasp hands in the middle of a standoff during a solidarity rally calling for justice over the death of george floyd, in new york, on june 2, 2020. (ap photo/wong maye-e, file)Demonstrators protest near the white house in washington on saturday, june 6, 2020, over the death of george floyd. (ap photo/jacquelyn martin, file)The casket of george floyd is placed in the chapel for his funeral service at the fountain of praise church, tuesday, june 9, 2020, in houston. (ap photo/david j. Phillip, pool, file)