George Floyd Protests

The Federal Officers Who Cleared Protesters From Lafayette Square Can Stay Anonymous For Now, A Judge Ruled
Black Lives Matter is suing administration officials and law enforcement officers for clearing an area in front of the White House so that President Trump could walk through for a photo op.

Police Say The "Umbrella Man" At The George Floyd Protests Was A White Supremacist Trying To Incite Violence
Minneapolis investigators said the man is a member of the Hells Angels biker gang who started violence at what had been a peaceful protest.

“Flat-Out Unconstitutional”: Federal Officers In Unmarked Vans Are Snatching People Off The Streets In Portland
“They're snatching people and asking questions later," said one resident.

25 Of The Most Powerful Photos Of This Week
From the surge in coronavirus cases around the globe to the demand for racial justice and equality in the US, these are the most striking and memorable pictures from this past week.

People Are Camping Out In The Middle Of Manhattan To Try To Defund The Police
Drawing inspiration from the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement, protesters are now vowing to eat, sleep, and protest outside City Hall in Manhattan until the NYPD is defunded.

How Diverse Is Joe Biden’s 2020 Staff? His Campaign Won’t Say.
During a national reckoning over racism and inclusion, the campaign is breaking with recent Democratic tradition by keeping its diversity numbers private.

9 Photo Stories That Will Challenge Your View Of The World
Here are some of the most interesting and powerful photo stories from across the internet this week.

24 Of The Most Powerful Photos Of This Week
From the landmark decision by the US Supreme Court against LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace to the ongoing fight for racial justice around the globe, these are the most striking and memorable pictures from this past week.

Top Democrats Are Refusing To “Defund The Police.” Activists Fear The Police Killings Won’t Stop.
Reform leaders are frustrated with Democrats who have pushed aside the “defund the police” call that’s central to protests against police brutality after George Floyd’s killing.

21 Heartbreaking Pictures From The Aftermath Of The Tulsa Massacre
On the morning of June 1, 1921, white mobs set fire to Tulsa's Black Wall Street, killing as many as 300 Black residents and leaving thousands more without shelter and livelihoods.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund Raised Over $30 Million After George Floyd’s Death. Now It’s A Target.
The small nonprofit that raised millions during protests in Minneapolis has struggled to spend all of its new money and is now being attacked on the right.

He Trains Cops On Riot Control. He Admits He “Fluffed Up” His Résumé.
Geoff Perrin acknowledges he inflated his résumé, but says it hasn’t helped him get work with American police departments “because they just go, ‘What do you guys know about guns?’”

The Band Formerly Known As Lady Antebellum Is Being Accused Of "Performative Wokeness" And Being "Tone-Deaf" For Taking The Name Of A Black Singer
"How can you say Black Lives Matter and put your knee on the neck of another Black artist?"

They’re Protesting Racism And Police Brutality. Their Parents Question Why It’s Their Fight.
Many young Somalis have come out to protest the police killing of George Floyd, but some of their immigrant parents just don't understand why their children see it as their battle.

26 Of The Most Powerful Photos Of This Week
From emotional scenes at George Floyd's memorial in Houston to the ongoing demonstrations against racial injustice around the world, these are the most striking and memorable pictures from this past week.

New York Has Repealed A Law That Kept Police Disciplinary Records Secret
The move came as state and federal politicians face pressure from the public to find legislative solutions against police brutality following George Floyd's death.

An EMT Suspended For Supporting Protesters While In Uniform Said She Shouldn't Have To Hold Back
"They wanted to me to be able to separate the personal from the professional," EMT Taylor Varela told BuzzFeed News. "Now is not the time to separate anything."

The Top Military Official In The US Apologized For Being Part Of Trump's Tear Gas Church Photo Op
"I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics."

A&E Has Canceled "Live PD" Amid Nationwide Protests Against Police Brutality
The decision also came just days after reports that the crew had destroyed footage of deputies in Austin killing a Black man during a traffic stop.

Tiffany Haddish Opened Up About Watching Police Kill Friends In Front Of Her As A Teen
"I have watched my friends be slaughtered by the police."

"This Has To Stop": A Court Invoked George Floyd's Death In Denying Qualified Immunity To Cops Who Shot A Man 22 Times
"Although we recognize that our police officers are often asked to make splitsecond decisions, we expect them to do so with respect for the dignity and worth of black lives."

25 Emotional Moments From George Floyd's Memorial In Houston
Thousands of people paid their respects ahead of Floyd's burial in Houston.

The Head Of CrossFit Has Stepped Down After Telling Staff On A Zoom Call, “We're Not Mourning For George Floyd”
In a recording obtained by BuzzFeed News, Greg Glassman can also be heard sharing wild conspiracy theories about Floyd and the coronavirus.

How The Antifa Fantasy Spread In Small Towns Across The US
Rumors of roving bands of Antifa have followed small protests all over the United States. Why are people so ready to believe them?

This Is What Black Lives Matter Marches Look Like Around The World
The message of Black Lives Matter is resonating around the globe as demonstrators march in solidarity with protests in the US.

The NYPD Officer Who Was Filmed Violently Shoving A Protester Has Been Charged With Assault
Officer Vincent D’Andraia, 28, is the first New York City police officer to face charges for conduct against demonstrators protesting police brutality.

"He's Going To Change The World": George Floyd Is Laid To Rest As Protests Continue Nationwide
"I want justice for my brother," Philonise Floyd said in a speech. "Everybody's going to remember him around the world. He's going to change the world."

Thousands Of People Have Been Arrested During Recent Protests. We Want To Hear About Your Experiences.
Thousands of people have been arrested during protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality. BuzzFeed News wants to hear about your experiences.

These Pictures Show Just How Large The Protests Against Police Brutality Really Are
Across major cities and small towns, people turned out en masse to demonstrate against the police killing of George Floyd and to call for change in the US.

Officials Say A KKK Leader Drove His Truck Into A Crowd Of Protesters
Harry Rogers, 36, is "an admitted leader of the Ku Klux Klan and a propagandist for Confederate ideology," said authorities.

Minneapolis Leaders Pledged To Disband The Police Department In Response To George Floyd's Death
The announcement marks an unprecedented victory for activists that could prove a turning point in criminal justice reform.

Meet The Volunteers Helping Arrested Protesters With Clean T-Shirts, Legal Advice, And A Free Ride Home
“I don’t like armchair activism.”

A Viral Video Shows A Seattle Mom Getting Arrested After Allegedly Tapping Cops With Her Car Days Earlier
"She tapped a police officer’s bike, apparently, so now they’re saying she assaulted a police officer."

Unprecedented Protests Swept US Cities And Small Towns For A Second Weekend
Calls to defund the police were a common refrain at many of the protests, which seem unparalleled in modern memory in their scale and sweep.

“Selma” Was Punished At The Oscars After The Cast Protested Eric Garner’s Death
"Members of the Academy called in to the studio saying, ‘How dare they do that?'"

Fox News Aired A Graphic Showing How Stock Markets Rose After George Floyd And MLK's Deaths
“The infographic used on FOX News Channel’s Special Report to illustrate market reactions to historic periods of civil unrest should have never aired on television without full context," a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.

Protesters And Journalists Are Being Attacked For Exercising The Same Rights
Why are some journalists all too eager to rail against media suppression while downplaying — or even championing — police efforts to harass or arrest protesters?

Two NYPD Officers Were Suspended After Their Violent Actions Against Protesters Were Caught On Video
In one video, an officer was seen pushing a woman to the ground, and in another, an officer was caught pepper-spraying a protester after pulling down his face mask.

A Philadelphia Police Inspector Was Charged With Assault For Beating A Student Protester With A Baton
Widely shared video footage showed Joseph Bologna striking a Temple University student in the back of the head with a metal baton and arresting him while trying to disperse protesters.


Police In Latin America Are Using The Coronavirus To Abuse Their Power
A Mexican man was found dead from blunt trauma to the head after being detained by the police for not wearing a mask in public.

Police Are Arresting Peaceful Black Protesters Using Force, And The Videos Are Alarming
"Because he was Black, they felt that they needed five cops to tackle him to the ground and drag him to behind the other cops."

Selena Gomez Is Giving Her Instagram Page To Black Activists For The Next Few Days "So That They Can Speak Directly To All Of Us"
"Over the next few days I will be highlighting influential leaders and giving them a chance to take over my Instagram so that they can speak directly to all of us."

A Cop Was Filmed Telling Armed White Men To Avoid Arrest "So We Don't Look Like We're Playing Favorites"
The video of the officer warning armed white men who were protecting a store has prompted a public apology from the chief of police in Salem, Oregon.

A Mom Explained Why She Took Her 2-Year-Old Daughter To Protest
Catch up on all the stories we can't stop talking about from Did You See This?

Black People Are Tired Of Inaction Against Police Brutality. They’re Watching Biden To See If He’ll Turn The Tide.
Activists and Democrats say the protests against police violence are a pivotal moment for Joe Biden's presidential campaign.

Black Lives Matter Is Suing Trump And The Federal Government Over Force Used Against Protesters Outside The White House
The lawsuit accuses law enforcement officers of violating the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters on the orders of Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr.

A Police Chief Is Being Investigated For Tweets Calling Protesters "Barbarians," "Bottom Feeders," And "Savages"
The police chief in Michigan appears to have used a locked Twitter account to call for officers to crush unrest, saying photos of cops kneeling with protesters made him "want to vomit."

They Marched For Breonna Taylor And Repeated A Powerful Message: “Black Women Are Not An Afterthought”
Tenelle Veira single-handedly organized a protest specifically for Breonna Taylor, saying Black women are often overlooked when people talk about police brutality.

Police Spend Years In Court Fighting Claims of Excessive Force and Misconduct After Mass Arrests of Protesters
The ACLU is investigating allegations of unlawful arrests and excessive force this week by local and federal law enforcement in Washington, DC.

Police Fatally Shot A Man Who Was Kneeling After Mistaking A Hammer In His Pocket For A Gun
“Looting is not a justification for the use of deadly force. It’s just property," a lawyer for the family said.

A College Student's Family Say He Has Brain Damage After Police Shot Him With A Beanbag Round
Video on Twitter shows police shooting volunteer paramedics with the same "less-lethal" ammunition as they tried to carry injured 20-year-old Justin Howell to safety.

Stop Sharing Viral Photos Of Cops Kneeling With Protesters
If you share pictures of police officers kneeling or hugging protesters, you’re not advancing the cause against police brutality; if anything, you’re impeding it.

Comparing 1968 And 2020 Is More Complicated Than Donald Trump Wants It To Be
A lot of people have brought up Richard Nixon this week. Looking back at 1968's election, protests, and violence, it's hard to draw a clean one-to-one.

Nicole Byer Responded To A Fan Who Loves "Nailed It" But Doesn't Want To Advocate For Black Lives Matter
"I’ll write you a conversation to have with your white child."

A Retired Black Police Officer Was Shot Dead Guarding A Shop From Looters
"You killed a man over some TVs," yelled a man who recorded the death on Facebook Live. “That’s somebody’s granddaddy.”

Here Are Powerful Pictures Of The Protests Through The Eyes Of Black Photographers
"I want to make sure the stories of my fellow black brothers and sisters are accurately represented."

“You Don’t Think That Don’t Affect Us”: Black Cops Talk To Black Protesters About George Floyd’s Killing
“Just because we have this on doesn’t mean we don’t have an opinion about what happened. You are putting all of us in a bottle together,” one officer told protesters.

John Boyega: “They Want Things To Go Back To Normal That Ain’t Happening.”
"It's about dismantling white supremacy from the ground all the way up," Boyega told BuzzFeed News after delivering an impassioned speech to the crowd.

Minneapolis Public Schools Voted To End Its Contract With The City’s Police After The Death Of George Floyd
The decision is a giant step for activists as protests rise across the country, and could drive other districts to do the same.

Peaceful Demonstrations Against Racism And Police Brutality Continued As Protesters Defied Curfew Orders
The demonstrations in Houston, New York City, and Washington, DC, were largely peaceful.

People Keep Driving Into Protesters During The George Floyd Demonstrations Across The United States
With the nation’s streets becoming contested political spaces, cars have been turned into weapons — something the far right has joked about for years.

Vanessa Bryant Shared Kobe Murals That Have Been Saved By Protesters, And The Images Are Powerful
"They know Kobe is off-limits."

People Say Pallets Of Bricks Are Showing Up Near Protests All Over The US. The Truth Is More Complicated.
As of now, there's no evidence to support claims of coordinated brick placements at protests.

As Thousands Of Protesters Are Arrested, “The Crimes Of The Rich Are Not Prosecuted”
More than 11,000 people have been arrested since the George Floyd protests began; just one US banker was sentenced to prison for the 2008 financial crisis.

A DC Man Sheltered More Than 60 Protesters In His Home All Night To Prevent Them From Being Arrested
Rahul Dubey opened his door to dozens of protesters who were boxed in on a street after DC police used pepper spray to disperse a crowd after curfew.

Six Atlanta Cops Are Being Charged After Using Tasers To Violently Detain Two College Students During Protests
Two of the police officers were fired from the Atlanta Police Department the day after the violent encounter.

Joe Biden Isn’t Making A New Argument — But His Argument Is Lining Up With The Crisis
Speaking amid nationwide protests and unrest, the presumptive Democratic nominee promised his presidency would be about addressing pain and not about himself — a familiar theme for Biden this year.

A Lot Of Celebrities Are Being Useless Right Now
Many statements from celebrities and brands about George Floyd’s death and Black Lives Matter protests feel like hollow attempts to be on the right side of history.

White People, Read This Before You Text Your Black Friends
If you’re not black and you have black friends whom you are only reaching out to now, be thoughtful about how you do it.

Peaceful Protesters Were Gassed Outside The White House So Trump Could Get A Photo Op At A Church
"I am the president of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters," the president said as police gassed and confronted peaceful protesters just yards away.

Billie Eilish Explained Why "All Lives Matter" Is Wrong, And The Message Is So Important
"I'm gonna try to explain this as if you were a child, because it FEELS LIKE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU MFS WILL UNDERSTAND."

Prosecutors Said The Bar Owner Who Killed James Scurlock Shot In Self-Defense And Won't Face Charges
James Scurlock, 22, was fatally shot outside a bar on Saturday following protests against police brutality.

A Beloved BBQ Chef Who Fed Police For Free Was Fatally Shot After Louisville Authorities "Returned Fire" At A Crowd
David McAtee was a popular barbecue chef in the community who often used to feed police officers for free.

Brands Have Been Speaking Out About Racism And This One Meme Captures Just How Hollow Some Of Them Are
"We hope this action encourages you to view [brand] positively without you, you know, expecting anything from us."

We're Living In A Vacuum Of Political Leadership
In dual national crises with an absence at the top, the country’s political leadership is as weak as its least capable local leaders.

Seattle Police Are Investigating Viral Videos That Allege An Officer Maced A Child During A George Floyd Protest
The police department confirmed that it had received a high volume of reports regarding the use of mace by officers during Saturday's demonstrations.

A 22-Year-Old Black Man Was Fatally Shot At A Protest Against Police Brutality Outside An Omaha Bar
"Last night I lost a son. My wife lost a son. ... All because he decided to protest against racism."

Sunday Night's Protests Against Police Brutality Were A Mix Of Chaotic Violence And Peaceful Demonstrations
The demonstrations, taking place under curfews, have been heated, with some cities marred by looting.



Journalists Around The Country Have Been Injured And Arrested By Police While Covering Protests
One CNN correspondent was arrested on live television while a photographer has been permanently blinded by a rubber bullet.

Halsey Protested In Los Angeles Yesterday And Has A Message For Fans Who Asked For Selfies
"This is not a meet and greet."

21 Celebrities Who Participated In The George Floyd Protests
Fighting on the front lines.

NYPD Officers Drove Through A Crowd Of Protesters, And New York’s Mayor Is Under Fire For Calling It A “Tough Decision”
"That is not peaceful protest. Let's not kid ourselves," Mayor Bill de Blasio said as he promised a full investigation.

Violent Protests Against Police Brutality Are Once Again Sweeping The Country
Demonstrations that started in Minneapolis and Louisville spread on Saturday to dozens of cities as far afield as Alaska and Hawaii. Many turned violent.

George Floyd's Brother Said Trump "Didn't Give Me The Opportunity To Speak" When He Called His Family
"I was trying to talk to him, but he just kept like pushing me off like, 'I don’t want to hear what you’re talking about.'"

A Federal Security Officer Was Shot Dead During A California Protest
A top Trump official called the killing an "act of domestic terrorism."

Black Protesters Who Want To Demonstrate Peacefully Are Calling Out White People Who Instigate Violence
"When we aren't asking people to destroy things in our name and people do it anyway, we know that this is something that's going to blow back on us," one black activist told BuzzFeed News.

The NYPD Is Reviewing A Video Showing An Officer Using Two Hands To Throw A Woman To The Ground
"I wasn't aggressive towards the police officer, and even if I was he should have had the self restraint to not hurt to people he's supposed to be protecting," the woman in the video said on Saturday.

What Do The Protests Look Like In Your Community?
Fiery protests are rocking the country following George Floyd's death. How is your community coping?

I’m Tired Of Watching Black Death Go Viral
Why must graphic videos of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery make the social media rounds in order for the public to care about their unjust deaths?

A Law Enforcement Officer Shot At A Reporter With Pepper Balls While She Covered A Protest On Air
Kaitlin Rust was reporting on air when an officer approached her and her crew and appeared to aim directly at them.

George Floyd And Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin Worked Security At The Same Nightclub. People Who Worked With Them Can't Believe It.
The club’s owner said former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin would sometimes "overreact and lash out quickly" while working as a security guard at the popular club.

If You’re Going Out To Protest During The Pandemic, Be Careful Of The Coronavirus Risk
Your chance of contracting COVID-19 increases if you’re in a group, and tear gas may make the illness worse.

Mark Zuckerberg Explains Why Facebook Didn’t Remove A Trump Post Suggesting Violence In Minneapolis Despite Calling It “Divisive"
"Although the post had a troubling historical reference, we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force."

There Were Massive Protests Around The Country For A Second Night In Response To The Killings Of George Floyd And Breonna Taylor
Thousands took to the streets in Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta, Detroit, Oakland, Los Angeles, and more.

How To Adult When The World Is Falling Apart
Protests over George Floyd’s death spread around the country last night. Twitter responded to the president’s tweet again. Kylie Jenner may not be a billionaire?! And we talked to Rob Kenney, creator of the viral “Dad How Do I?” YouTube channel.

The Protests Against George Floyd's Death Make Some People Uncomfortable. That's The Point.
As responses to the protests over George Floyd’s death come in, it’s clear that only some people are allowed to agitate in public without any consequences.

More On Cops And Less On Housing: Here’s How Minneapolis Spends Its Money
"While Black people in Minneapolis have been reduced to bottom caste status, white communities have thrived.”