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May 26: Minneapolis memorial set up for George Floyd
Flowers, signs, and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died while in the custody of the Minneapolis police.
Photos: How protests have engulfed America since George Floyd's death
George Floyd died in Minneapolis on Monday night, May 25. A white police officer named Derek Chauvin pinned the 46-year-old African American man to the pavement beside a cruiser and—as captured in a widely seen bystander video—kneeled on the handcuffed Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Three other officers stood by without intervening, even as Floyd pleaded, "I can't breathe" and "My neck hurts" and "They're going to kill me."
Floyd, suspected of allegedly using a counterfeit banknote, was later pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center. Protests began in Minneapolis on Tuesday and spread throughout America's major cities by mid-week as the video was shared. As of Monday, June 1, per the New York Times, people had protested police brutality and racism in 140 cities and counting with the national guard called to 21 of them. Over 4,000 arrests were made, according to the AP. Several curfews were imposed over the weekend, with additional city and county announcements Monday.
Stacker monitored major newswires and dug through the Getty Images database from the past week to compile this gallery—a potentially historic timeline in American civil rights.
Floyd's killing comes six years after 44-year-old African American Eric Garner was put in a chokehold by an NYPD officer in Staten Island. A horrifying video at that time similarly included the victim's final words: "I can't breathe." This year, just two months before Floyd's death, Louisville Police officers fatally shot 26-year-old African American Breonna Taylor. Less than three weeks prior to Taylor, a former Glynn County (Georgia) Police officer and his son tracked down and murdered Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old African American jogging in Brunswick.
The last decade has been filled with countless examples of Black people dying at the hands of police—most of whom have, at worst, lost their jobs with no legal repercussions: Philando Castile, Minnesota, 2016 (officer acquitted); Alton Sterling, Baton Rouge, 2016 (no charges); 12-year-old Tamir Rice, Cleveland, 2014 (no indictments); Freddie Gray, Baltimore, 2015 (three acquitted, three with dropped charges); and Michael Brown, Ferguson, 2014, (no indictment).
Related: Protests around the world in the wake of George Floyd's death
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May 26: Minneapolis protests begin
Protesters march on Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis while decrying the killing of George Floyd.
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May 27: Los Angeles protests
Two people stand on a police vehicle during a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Los Angeles.
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May 27: Los Angeles protesters hold up their fists
Protesters hold up their fists in front of a row of police officers as protesters gather in downtown Los Angeles.
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May 27: Minneapolis daytime marches
Police fire tear gas at protestors in Minneapolis during the second day of protests over the death of George Floyd.
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May 27: Minneapolis night protests
People look on as a construction site burns in a large fire near the Third Police Precinct in Minneapolis.
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May 27: Shopping cart barricade
A protester ducks behind a makeshift barricade outside the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct.
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May 28: Minnesota police precinct burns
Protestors stand, fists raised, in front of the burning Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct during the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd.
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May 28: National Guard in Minnesota
A member of the National Guard patrols near a burned-out building in Minneapolis.
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May 28: New York City daytime rally
Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Union Square in New York City
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May 28: Protesters break the windows of the 3rd Police Precinct
Protesters use a barricade to try and break the windows of the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct.
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May 29: Atlanta protest at CNN Headquarters
A man waves a Black Lives Matter flag atop the CNN logo.
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May 29: CNN journalist arrested
CNN journalist Omar Jimenez is taken into police custody during a live broadcast in Minneapolis.
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May 29: Oakland protests
A man stands in front of law enforcement during protests in Oakland.
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May 29: Oakland unrest
Items are lit on fire as protesters face off against police during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd.
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May 29: Protest in Manhattan’s Foley Square
Hundreds of protesters gather in Manhattan’s Foley Square to protest the death of George Floyd.
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May 29: Protestors lay in front of police
Demonstrators lay in front of police in protest.
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May 30: Artist paints a mural of George Floyd in LA
The artist Celos paints a mural of George Floyd in Downtown Los Angeles.
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May 30: Chicago protests
Protesters set fire to a police vehicle.
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May 30: Chicago police with batons
Members of the Chicago Police Department and Illinois Sheriffs Department join forces to control crowds of protesters.
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May 30: DC fireworks during police clash
A firecracker thrown by protesters in Washington D.C. explodes under police one block from the White House.
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May 30: Die-in next to the Colorado State Capitol
Jevon Sutton yells "I can't breathe" while joining thousands of people as they stage a die-in next to the Colorado State Capitol.
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May 30: George Floyd memorial
A protester stands near a George Floy memorial and mural following a day of demonstration in a call for justice.
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May 30: Houston Police Chief walks arm-in-arm with demonstrator
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo walks arm-in-arm with a woman during a "Justice for George Floyd" event in Houston.
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May 30: LAPD kiosk on fire
A burned-down security kiosk is seen at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles following a night of protests in the city.
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May 30: NYPD van vandalized
A New York Police Department van after being vandalized by protesters near Union Square.
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May 30: Philly museum peaceful rally
Thousands rally on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum to demand justice for George Floyd.
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May 30: Police advance on demonstrators in Minneapolis
Police advance on demonstrators in Minneapolis on May 30.
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May 30: Protesters hold roses
Protesters hold roses in solidarity after police escalated violent actions against protesters.
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May 30: Protestor holds sign with names of victims of police brutality
A protestor holds a sign with the name of victims of police brutality during a rally in Coral Gables, Florida.
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May 30: Volunteers clean up debris in MN
An aerial view of volunteers cleaning trash and debris after May 29 protests.
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May 31: Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett hugs a demonstrator
Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett hugs a demonstrator in Bellevue, Washington, during a gathering to protest the death of George Floyd.
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May 31: Boston night turns violent
A man walks past a burning Boston Police SUV on Tremont Street in Boston.
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May 31: Brooklyn rally
Protesters walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan during a march to honor George Floyd.
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May 31: Fire in DC near White House
Demonstrators stand around a fire during a protest near the White House.
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May 31: Miami marches; armored vehicles
Protesters march near a row of Miami police officers and an armored vehicle during a rally in response to the death of George Floyd.
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May 31: MN State Capitol protests
A group performs Native American rituals outside the State Capitol in St. Paul as hundreds gather to protest on May 31.
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May 31: Officers take a knee
Two New York City police officers take a knee during a demonstration by protesters in Times Square.
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May 31: Protesters kneel during peaceful rally in Boston
Protesters kneel in front of the State House during a peaceful march in Boston.
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May 31: Protesters protect police in Boston
James "DJ Cakewalk" Walker's links arms with other protesters to protect members of the Boston Police after things got tense following a peaceful demonstration in Boston on May 31.
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May 31: Tear gas in Santa Monica
Police watch as tear gas is deployed during demonstrations.
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May 31: 'Black Futures Matters' sign in Times Square
Protesters demonstrate in Times Square.
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May 31: Truck on MN bridge
People react after a tanker truck drove into a crowd peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd on the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
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May 31: Standoff in Union Sqaure
Protesters face off with New York City Police during a march to honor George Floyd near Union Square in Manhattan.
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May 31: White House turns off lights
A man holds up his fist during a protest near the darkened White House in Washington D.C.
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June 1: Cleanup begins
Tom Bernard cleans the front of his damaged shop on June 1 in Minneapolis.
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June 1: MN daytime protests
A protester kneels during a call for justice in Minneapolis.
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June 1: Protestors lie on the ground in Times Square
Protestors lie on the ground with their hands behind their back in a call for justice for George Floyd in Times Square.
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June 1: Terrance Floyd visits site where brother was killed
Terrence Floyd (center), the brother of George Floyd, sits as people gather at the site where George Floyd died.
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June 1: Woman reads the Bible in front of National Guardsmen
A woman reads the Bible in front of a line of National Guardsmen on May 29.
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June 2: President Trump holds appearance amid protests
President Donald Trump walks back to the White House escorted by the Secret Service after appearing outside of St John's Episcopal Church across Lafayette Park in Washington D.C. on June 1. To clear the president's path to and from the church, police officers wearing riot gear pushed back demonstrators with force and tear gas.
