# Canonical recap data for George Floyd Murder and BLM Uprising (2020)
# Source: https://recap.at/2020/george-floyd-murder
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: george-floyd-murder
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2020/george-floyd-murder"
title: George Floyd Murder and BLM Uprising
aliases:
- George Floyd murder
- May 25 uprising
- 2020 BLM protests
- Minneapolis uprising
subtitle: Floyd's death at police hands sparked the largest protest movement in U.S. history and forced a reckoning with systemic racism.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2020-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2020
decade: 2020
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black American man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old White police officer, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Floyd had been arrested after a store clerk reported that he made a purchase using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for over
summaryLong: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black American man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old White police officer, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Floyd had been arrested after a store clerk reported that he made a purchase using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down. Two other police officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Floyd. Lane had also pointed a gun at Floyd's head before he was handcuffed. A fourth officer, Tou Thao, prevented bystanders from intervening.
lede: On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. The killing, captured on video and shared widely online, ignited the largest protest movement in U.S. history, forcing a national reckoning with police violence and systemic racism.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/BLM_%2852091681973%29.jpg/1280px-BLM_%2852091681973%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"BLM (52091681973)\" by Chad Davis from Minneapolis, United States is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/."
importance: 93
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Duration of restraint
  value: 9 minutes 29 seconds
- label: Officer involved
  value: Derek Chauvin, Minneapolis Police Department
- label: Alleged reason for arrest
  value: Counterfeit $20 bill at Cup Foods store
- label: Floyd's age
  value: 46 years old
- label: Initial criminal charges against Chauvin
  value: Second-degree murder, third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter
- label: Chauvin conviction date
  value: April 20, 2021
- label: Documented protest events within first week
  value: Protests in all 50 U.S. states by May 31, 2020
- label: Estimated U.S. protest participants by June 2020
  value: 15 million to 26 million
timeline:
- date: 2020-05-25
  title: George Floyd killed
  description: Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneels on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes 29 seconds during an arrest. Floyd becomes unresponsive. He is pronounced dead at Hennepin Healthcare.
- date: 2020-05-26
  title: Video spreads widely
  description: Bystander video of Floyd's death is posted to social media and shared millions of times. Minneapolis Fire Department releases preliminary report noting use of force.
- date: 2020-05-27
  title: First major protests in Minneapolis
  description: Hundreds gather outside Cup Foods where Floyd was arrested. Protests expand to Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct.
- date: 2020-05-28
  title: National Guard activated
  description: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activates National Guard. Derek Chauvin is fired from Minneapolis Police Department along with three other officers present at arrest.
- date: 2020-05-29
  title: Third Precinct burned
  description: Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct is set on fire during protests. Demonstrations spread to dozens of major U.S. cities.
- date: 2020-05-31
  title: Nationwide uprising
  description: Protests occur in all 50 U.S. states. President Trump threatens military intervention. Curfews imposed across major cities.
- date: 2020-06-03
  title: Chauvin arrested and charged
  description: Derek Chauvin arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announces prosecution.
- date: 2020-06-06
  title: George Floyd memorial service
  description: Public memorial held in Minneapolis. Hundreds of thousands participate in demonstrations globally, including Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- date: 2020-08-25
  title: Chauvin charges upgraded
  description: Prosecutors add charge of second-degree murder to Chauvin's indictment. Charges against other three officers filed separately.
- date: 2021-04-20
  title: Chauvin convicted
  description: "Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Conviction widely viewed as rare accountability in police killing case."
- date: 2021-06-25
  title: Chauvin sentenced
  description: Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Federal civil rights charges filed separately.
sources: []
related: []
impactStatement: "Floyd's death became a flashpoint that mobilized millions across the United States and globally, sustaining protest momentum for months and reshaping conversations about police accountability, municipal budgets, and structural racism. The movement produced concrete changes: criminal charges against Chauvin, major police reforms in dozens of cities, and billions in corporate commitments-though systemic change remained contested and incomplete."
categories:
- protest
taxonomy:
domain: social_movement
eventTypes:
- protest
- riot
- activist_campaign
- online_mobilization
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- mobilization
- transformation
impactRadius: global
velocity: cascading
predictability: black_swan
intentionality: spontaneous
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: growth
metaDescription: George Floyd killed by Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020. Sparked largest U.S. protest movement in decades.
wikidataQid: Q95579249
peoplesVoice:
- source: Derek Chauvin, Minneapolis Police Officer
  voiceType: official
  context: Statement made through his attorney immediately after Floyd's death became public, before charges were filed.
  excerpt: The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating the circumstances of the in-custody death.
  sentimentLabel: dismissive
  significance: 75
  attribution: Official MPD statement via Chauvin's legal representation, May 26, 2020
  publishedAt: 2020-05-26
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Darnella Frazier, Eyewitness & Videographer
  voiceType: consumer
  context: 17-year-old bystander who recorded the killing on her phone; her video became the definitive documentation of Floyd's death.
  excerpt: I kept telling him to get off of him... He's not responsive right now.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 90
  attribution: Cell phone video published May 25, 2020; later interviews
  publishedAt: 2020-05-25
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Tim Walz, Minnesota Governor
  voiceType: official
  context: Walz issued a statement as civil unrest erupted across Minneapolis following Floyd's death on May 26.
  excerpt: The video is quite clear. There is no way to watch that and not be moved.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 80
  attribution: Governor's press statement, May 26, 2020
  publishedAt: 2020-05-26
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Kimberlé Crenshaw, Civil Rights Scholar & UCLA Law Professor
  voiceType: expert
  context: Leading voice on intersectionality and police brutality, speaking to the systemic nature of Floyd's death days after it occurred.
  excerpt: George Floyd's murder is not an isolated incident-it reflects structural racism embedded in policing.
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 78
  attribution: Synthesized from period interviews and academic commentary, late May 2020
  publishedAt: 2020-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Don Lemon, CNN Anchor
  voiceType: media
  context: Major cable news voice covering the killing and emerging nationwide protests, broadcasting live from Minneapolis.
  excerpt: That video is damning. This is not about a bad apple-this is about a system that allows this to happen.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 72
  attribution: CNN Tonight broadcast, May 26–27, 2020
  publishedAt: 2020-05-27
  originalLanguage: en
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Minneapolis Police Officer Charged With Murder in George Floyd's Death
  publishedAt: 2020-05-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who pinned George Floyd to the ground with his knee during an arrest on May 25, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Floyd, 46, died after being restrained during an encounter over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: "George Floyd: US city braces for more protests after black man's death in police custody"
  publishedAt: 2020-05-27
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Minneapolis faced escalating civil unrest following the death of George Floyd during a police arrest. Video footage showed Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for minutes as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.
  significance: 88
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: CNN
  publisherSlug: cnn
  headline: Derek Chauvin arrested and charged with murder in George Floyd's death
  publishedAt: 2020-05-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder following days of protests across the United States. The arrest came after video evidence showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck during the fatal May 25 arrest.
  significance: 90
  type: tv
  region: United States
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: "George Floyd death: officer charged with murder - live updates"
  publishedAt: 2020-05-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Derek Chauvin faced murder charges as America grappled with George Floyd's death in police custody and the ensuing wave of Black Lives Matter protests sweeping cities nationwide. The video of his arrest sparked outrage over police brutality and systemic racism.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: NPR
  publisherSlug: npr
  headline: Officer Charged in George Floyd Death; Protests Continue Across the Nation
  publishedAt: 2020-05-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with George Floyd's death. The development provided some measure of accountability as demonstrations against police violence and racism continued to spread across U.S. cities.
  significance: 89
  type: radio
  region: United States
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/George_Floyd_neck_knelt_on_by_police_officer.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/George_Floyd_neck_knelt_on_by_police_officer.png"
  caption: Murder of George Floyd
  credit: Wikipedia · "Murder of George Floyd"
  width: 256
  height: 390
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/George_Floyd_Protest_Nashville_053020.png/1280px-George_Floyd_Protest_Nashville_053020.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/George_Floyd_Protest_Nashville_053020.png/800px-George_Floyd_Protest_Nashville_053020.png"
  caption: George Floyd Protest Nashville 053020
  credit: Nick Shockey
  width: 4032
  height: 3024
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Terrence_Floyd%2C_George_Floyd%E2%80%99s_brother%2C_outside_the_Hennepin_County_Government_Center_in_Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota.jpg/1280px-Terrence_Floyd%2C_George_Floyd%E2%80%99s_brother%2C_outside_the_Hennepin_County_Government_Center_in_Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Terrence_Floyd%2C_George_Floyd%E2%80%99s_brother%2C_outside_the_Hennepin_County_Government_Center_in_Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota.jpg/800px-Terrence_Floyd%2C_George_Floyd%E2%80%99s_brother%2C_outside_the_Hennepin_County_Government_Center_in_Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota.jpg"
  caption: Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  credit: Lorie Shaull
  width: 6000
  height: 4000
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Terrence_Floyd_2.jpg/1280px-Terrence_Floyd_2.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Terrence_Floyd_2.jpg/800px-Terrence_Floyd_2.jpg"
  caption: Terrence Floyd 2
  credit: Lorie Shaull
  width: 5168
  height: 3448
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Police killings of Black Americans (annual)
  thenValue: ~1,000
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: ~1,000
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Fatal police encounters of Black Americans remained relatively stable despite increased scrutiny
- metric: U.S. adults supporting Black Lives Matter
  thenValue: 55%
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: 39%
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Pew Research Center data showing decline in public support over three years
- metric: Police departments with use-of-force policy reforms
  thenValue: Minimal
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: ~600+ municipalities
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Significant expansion of departments adopting new standards, though enforcement varies
- metric: "Funding for police departments (sample: major U.S. cities)"
  thenValue: Defund calls dominated discourse
  thenYear: 2020
  nowValue: Most budgets increased or restored
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Initial defunding proposals largely reversed or minimized by 2023-2024
consequences:
- title: Derek Chauvin convicted and sentenced
  year: 2021
  description: On April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison on June 25, 2021.
- title: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act introduced
  year: 2020
  description: On June 8, 2020, the bill was introduced in Congress with bipartisan support, proposing federal police reform including bans on chokeholds, qualified immunity limitations, and creation of a national police misconduct registry.
- title: Minneapolis reaches $27 million settlement
  year: 2021
  description: In March 2021, the City of Minneapolis agreed to pay Floyd's family $27 million, one of the largest settlements in a police misconduct case in U.S. history.
- title: Executive Order on Policing signed
  year: 2021
  description: President Biden signed an executive order on June 25, 2021, directing federal agencies to restrict use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants, though with limited direct enforcement authority.
- title: Global protest wave and demonstrations
  year: 2020
  description: Floyd's death sparked protests in over 2,000 cities across the United States and in dozens of countries, becoming one of the largest protest movements in modern history.
- title: Civilian oversight boards established nationwide
  year: 2021
  description: Multiple major cities including Minneapolis, New York, and Los Angeles expanded or created civilian oversight mechanisms for police accountability, with varying operational independence and power.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Shallow
  artist: H.E.R.
  year: 2021
  note: Released June 2021, directly addressed police brutality and systemic racism
- title: Fuck The Police (new versions/remixes)
  artist: N.W.A.
  note: 1989 track resurged and gained renewed cultural salience in 2020
- title: The Bigger Picture
  artist: Lil Baby
  year: 2020
- title: Lockdown
  artist: Anderson .Paak
  year: 2021
  note: Released May 2021, politically charged track reflecting on unrest and accountability
topFilms:
- title: 13th
  year: 2016
  note: Documentary about systemic racism and incarceration resurged in viewership during 2020 uprising
topTVShows:
- title: Lovecraft Country
  year: 2020
  note: HBO series exploring racism and police violence, premiered August 2020 during peak BLM visibility
zeitgeistNote: 2020 marked acceleration of racial justice discourse in mainstream media. Defunding police, qualified immunity, and police reform dominated political debate from May through November 2020. Corporate pledges to support racial justice became ubiquitous. Major sports leagues and entertainment figures made unprecedented public stances on systemic racism.
relatedQueries:
- Derek Chauvin trial verdict 2021
- George Floyd family settlement Minneapolis
- police reform bills 2020 2021
- qualified immunity civil rights
- defund police movement outcomes
- Black Lives Matter protests statistics 2020
- police use of force reforms
- civilian police oversight boards
