In 2020, the Black Lives Matter demonstrations became the largest protest movement in U.S. history following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Nationwide, between 15 and 26 million people participated in these actions, with 93% of the demonstrations reported as peaceful. According to ACLED data, Floyd’s death sparked global outrage because many of the systemic crises in the U.S. are mirrored worldwide. In the week following his death, at least 8,700 demonstrations were reported across 74 countries, protesting domestic instances of police brutality and systemic racism.
Although committed to opposing anti-Black state violence, the movement was quickly politicized. Critics often framed it as a harmful cause designed to overlook other groups while vilifying law enforcement. While some observers describe Black Lives Matter as the modern-day Civil Rights Movement, researchers have noted that both eras of social justice activism faced criticism for centering the plight of Black people within the American racial caste system.
In a 2021 interview with NPR, University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Deen Freelon discussed the widespread disinformation targeting the movement. Freelon highlighted false stories about protestors setting fires in Oregon and claims that the cause was white-led. Additionally, a false narrative regarding BLM protestors attacking elderly individuals circulated on social media, though fact-checkers later debunked the posts, revealing the photos were taken in South Africa years prior.
Notably, much of the criticism against Black Lives Matter involves claims of aggression, ranging from allegations of advocating for violence against police to framing protests as mere civil disturbances. The article “Cultural violence in news coverage of the George Floyd murder” explores how media portrayals can shape public attitudes, sometimes leading to the acceptance of state violence against African Americans. Research from the Thurgood Marshall Institute found striking disparities in police responses during 2020; officers were more likely to attend racial justice demonstrations and escalate tactics compared to other types of protests. These studies suggest that the perceived link between Black communities and violence is often rooted in systemic barriers and racial profiling rather than race itself.
By 2026, the focus of national unrest shifted toward the federal government’s immigration enforcement. Protests against ICE began across the country in response to agency violence directed at both immigrants and U.S. citizens. On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter Jr., a native of Northridge, California, was fatally shot by an off-duty ICE officer. Just blocks from the site of George Floyd’s death, U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were also killed in Minneapolis.
Aniko Bodroghkozy, a Media Studies professor at the University of Virginia, analyzed the national media response to these deaths in her article “When civil rights protesters are killed.” Bodroghkozy compares Good and Pretti to activists Viola Liuzzo and Reverend James Reeb, who were killed by white segregationists in 1965. She notes that all four individuals put their bodies on the line on behalf of vulnerable nonwhite people. The fact that the federal response prioritized the activists’ alignment with immigrant communities over their own whiteness highlights the political tensions of the era.
The ongoing violence highlights an expanding definition of state brutality. Alonnie Celestine, a senior at Xavier University of Louisiana, notes that in 2026, brutality is viewed through the lens of unchecked administrative power that exists beyond just the police or ICE. Following the killings of Good and Pretti, investigations remain stalled due to federal attempts to exclude state authorities. Meanwhile, Porter’s death went unnoticed for weeks because it was not captured on camera, suggesting that racial background and a lack of visual evidence continue to contribute to public indifference.
Despite these challenges, the power of community remains the primary tool for holding authorities accountable. Celestine emphasizes that rather than suppressing anger over those killed or detained, communities must transform that energy into movement building. By putting political pressure on representatives to pass legislation, activists aim to combat systemic violence. Ultimately, as Celestine suggests, collective power is what breeds the necessary level of collective care.