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in the article written about trayvon martin is how he was killed  out of discrimination. on february 26th trayvon martin was walking home and george zimmerman "suspected" trayvon because he claims there have been recent burglaries in the area, he decided to follow him and that lead to zimmerman shooting trayvon . Police arrived later to the  scene and zimmerman claimed he shot trayvon out of self defense, there were no witnesses or evidence proving that true. Many people were outrage with what zimmerman had done and the injustice that trayvon got, people did the "million hoodie march" and protested.  alicia garza tweeted the hashtag "#blacklives matter" and the movement grew from there.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/florida-teen-trayvon-martin-is-shot-and-killed

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On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, an African American teen walking home from a trip to a convenience store, is fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer patrolling the townhouse community of the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman later claimed to have shot the unarmed 17-year-old out of self-defense during a physical altercation.

After police initially opted not to arrest Zimmerman, whose father is white and mother is Hispanic, the case sparked protests and ignited national debates about racial profiling and self-defense laws. Zimmerman later was charged with second-degree murder. Following a high-profile trial that riveted America, he was acquitted of the charges against him. The term "Black lives matter" was then used for the first time by organizer Alicia Garza in a July 13, 2013 Facebook post in response to Zimmerman's acquittal. The phrase spread widely and became a rallying cry against racial injustice.

On February 26, Martin, a Miami high school student, was in Sanford visiting his father. Dressed in a hooded sweatshirt, the teen was on his way back to the home of his father's fiancée, after buying a bag of Skittles and a bottle of juice, when he was spotted by Zimmerman, a 28-year-old insurance-fraud investigator who was captain of the neighborhood patrol at the Retreat at Twin Lakes, which recently had experienced a series of break-ins and burglaries. Zimmerman called the non-emergency line of the Sanford police to report that Martin looked suspicious then ignored a police dispatcher's advice not to follow the young man. Moments later, gunfire rang out. When officers arrived, Martin was dead at the scene. Zimmerman, who had a bloody nose and cuts on the back of his head, was questioned then released. There were no eyewitnesses to the shooting, and police chose not to arrest Zimmerman, who claimed to have acted in self-defense.

After Martin's parents raised concerns about the police investigation into the death of their son, who had no criminal record, the case gained national attention. Protest rallies were held in cities nationwide, including New York City, where on March 21 hundreds of people gathered for the Million Hoodie March and demanded justice for Martin, who many believed Zimmerman had profiled as suspicious and threatening simply because the teen was Black. Two days later, President Barack Obama said of the shooting: "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon." In addition to raising a national debate about race relations, the shooting drew attention to Florida's controversial Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use lethal force if they fear for their safety and does not require them to retreat from a dangerous situation, even when it's possible to do so.

On April 11, 2012, following weeks of demonstrations, a special prosecutor appointed by Florida's governor charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial in June 2013. In court, the prosecution portrayed Zimmerman as a wannabe cop who had profiled Martin as a criminal, chased him down and fought him. Prosecutors also tried to poke holes in Zimmerman's self-defense claim by pointing to inconsistencies in his statements to the police. Defense attorneys for Zimmerman, who did not take the stand, contended he only shot Martin after the teen attacked him. On July 13, after deliberating for 16 hours over two days, a jury of six women found Zimmerman not guilty.

In November 2013, the city of Sanford announced new rules forbidding volunteers in its neighborhood watch program from carrying guns and pursuing suspects. Martin's death set off nationwide protests like the Million Hoodie March. And in 2013, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi formed the Black Lives Matter Network with the mission to "eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes."

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

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Florida Teen Trayvon Martin Shot and Killed

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Trayvon Martin, an African American teen walking home from a trip to a convenience store, is fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer patrolling the townhouse community of the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida.

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This article is about the shooting of 18-year-old boy Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Willson. it states that Michael Brown was an unarmed black teenager who was pulled aside for jaywalking by police a officer, Michael was shot to death six times by  Darren Wilson and his death sparked riots and violent protests.

https://www.ajc.com/news/ferguson-brown-faq/

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Shonta Johnson, from Chicago, takes photos of a memorial in the middle of the street Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, more than three months after black teen Michael Brown was shot and killed there by a white policeman in Ferguson, Mo. The shooting sparked weeks of violent protests and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declaring a state of emergency today as a grand jury deliberates on whether to charge Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death.

By Ernie Suggs, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Any day now, the St. Louis County grand jury is expected to decide whether to indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown.
What are the possible charges?

Second degree involuntary manslaughter, meaning that Wilson acted with criminal negligence;

First degree involuntary manslaughter, meaning that he recklessly caused Brown's death;

Voluntary manslaughter, meaning that he killed Brown "under the influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause";

Second degree murder, if grand jurors conclude that Wilson knowingly caused Brown's death or intended to cause serious injury that resulted in death;

First degree murder, if they conclude that he killed the teen intentionally and with malice.

What facts are most pertinent?
The big question is whether Wilson legitimately believed, as police have said, that Brown posed a threat to his safety or his life. Some witnesses painted a different picture, saying Brown had his hands raised in surrender.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Police face off with demonstrators as protests continue in the wake of 18-year-old Michael Brown's death on October 22, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
What do we know about the shooting?
Wilson, who was in a patrol vehicle, initially stopped Brown for jaywalking, because he and a friend were walking in the middle of Canfield Drive, a quiet street located off busy West Florissant Avenue. Brown was not armed.

Brown's friend, Dorian Johnson, and police officials agree that Wilson got out of the car and that he and Brown had a physical struggle, although which of them started it is at issue.

Two autopsies, one of them commissioned by the Brown family, found that six bullets struck Brown, all of them from the front. He had wounds to one hand, an arm, his chest and head. The St. Louis County coroner's report said the hand wound showed traces of material that could have come from the barrel of the gun, suggesting that the shot was fired at close range. A third autopsy was ordered by the U.S. Justice Department but has not been made public.

When the fatal shot struck Brown on the top of the head, he was roughly 35 feet from Wilson's vehicle, indicating that at some point he had moved away from it.
What do we not know?
Police say that when Wilson got out of his SUV, Brown tried to shove him back into the vehicle and reached for the officer's gun, prompting the first shots.

Johnson said that after telling the teens to get on the sidewalk, Wilson started to drive away, then reversed his vehicle and struck Brown with the SUV's door. He said the officer then got out of the car, struggled with Brown and began to shoot.

Some witnesses said Brown was shot while fleeing from the officer, a scenario not supported by the autopsies. Some, including Johnson, said he ran but then turned and held his hands up in surrender.

Police said he turned back toward the car and charged the officer, who fired to protect himself.
Michael Brown Darren Wilson Who was Michael Brown?
Brown, who was 18, had recently graduated from high school and was set to begin his freshman year at Vatterott College. He was shot to death at around noon on Aug. 9. in front of his grandmother's house. Shortly before the shooting, Brown had gotten into a scuffle with a store clerk over a box of cigars.
Who is Darren Wilson?
Wilson is a 28-year-old white police officer, who has been with the Ferguson Police Department for six years. He had no prior disciplinary record. When he stopped Brown, he was unaware of the cigar incident.
What do we know about the grand jury?
The grand jury began hearing evidence in the case in late August. It includes six white men, three white women, two black women and one black man.
What happens after the grand jury's decision?
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has already activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency in case civil unrest breaks out.

If Wilson is indicted, a separate jury will hear the evidence at trial and decide his guilt or innocence.

The Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson has already indicated that if Wilson is indicted, he will be fired. He hasn't decided what would happen if Wilson gets off. He has been on paid administrative leave - and in hiding - since the shooting.

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The Michael Brown killing: What you need to know

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Shonta Johnson, from Chicago, takes photos of a memorial in the middle of the street Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, more than three months after black teen Michael Brown was shot and killed there by a white policeman in Ferguson, Mo.

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article about Tanisha Anderson's tragic death in Cleveland Ohio, a 37-year-old woman who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. earlier in the day, Tanisha died her sister and brother said she was disoriented and having a bad day so he called the police to help her, they were very rough with Tanisha causing her to hit her head on concrete and be unresponsive while officers restrained her. this all resulted in the death of Tanisha. other reports claim Cleveland police department is not fit to asses situations correctly and isn't well trained, later Tanisha's family also filed a lawsuit.

https://4wardeveruk.org/cases/cases-abroad/police-medical-asylum/tanisha-anderson/

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Vulnerable woman dies after police 'takedown' manouver
Updates on this case will be listed at the foot of this item Tanisha Anderson, 37 years old, tragically died on the night of the 12 November 2014. Tanisha, from Cleveland, Ohio had been diagnosed in her early 20's with bipolar disorder. She was prescribed medication for this and schizophrenia.
On the day of Tanisha's death, she was described as having a "bad day" by her younger sister Jenifer. Joell Anderson, Tanisha's brother called the police in an attempt to help her after it was agreed that she should have an evaluation at a medical facility. Tanisha appeared to be disorientated and kept attempting to leave her home wearing nothing but a night gown.

After the police arrived there are two very different stories that emerged; one from the Cleveland police and the other from Tanisha's family.

According to the Sargent Ali Pillow, the Cleveland police spokesperson Tanisha was began to actively resist the police officers. The police claimed that Tanisha had changed her mind about the voluntary medical evaluation to determine her mental state.

The police decided that it was now their decision; forcing Tanisha to go to the medical facility. However, Tanisha apparently started kicking at the officers. Pillow stated that "a short time later the woman stopped struggling and appeared to go limp. Officers found a faint pulse and immediately called EMS".

The story depicted by her brother Joell, was completely different to this story. According to Joell, Tanisha sat herself in the back of the police car voluntarily; however, she quickly became agitated about the confined space she was in.

Tanisha kept trying to escape and the police apparently drew a taser. Joell pleaded with the officers to not use the weapon and instead they used a 'takedown' move which resulted in Tanisha's head hitting the concrete pavement. The police officer then placed his knee in her back and handcuffed her.

After this Tanisha did not move, or speak. Nevertheless, despite this, the police officers refused to attend to her until a female officer was present at the scene regardless of the fact that it was evident that she was unconscious.

In addition to this, during the 'takedown' manoeuvre completed by the officers Tanisha's nightgown lifted above her waist. Joell had to use his own jacket to cover up his sister. It took 20 minutes until emergency services arrived.

None of the officers involved in this incident had been suspended temporarily, fired or sanctioned in any way. Although, the Cleveland Police Department have stated that their Division of Police Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team are investigating the case.

The coroner ruled Tanisha's death a homicide. The cause of death was listed as "sudden death in association with physical restraint in a prone position in association with ischemic heart disease and bipolar disorder with agitation".

Over recent months there have been several killings with Cleveland police Department playing a role. The Justice Report has revealed that the Cleveland Police Department are untrained and do not have formal instructions on how to treat individuals with mental health illnesses.

Since the coroner ruled that the death was a homicide due to being held in the prone position, Tanisha's family have filed a civil law case against the officers involved. The lawsuit is for the use of excessive force. The two police officers have pleaded with the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.

................................................................................

Three years after Tanisha Anderson's death, investigation ends with Cleveland officers cleared of criminal charges
November 2017

Tanisha Anderson's family receives $2.25 million in settlement with Cleveland over death in police custody
6 February 2017

Officers ask judge to dismiss lawsuit in Tanisha Anderson case
8 July 2015

Tanisha Anderson: Cleveland sheriff to investigate police-involved death
24 June 2015

How Tanisha Anderson's bad day turned into her last
5 June 2015

Family file civil rights lawsuit against Cleveland authorities
7 January 2015

Cops slam unarmed woman on the pavement, killing her in front of family
17 November 2014

Cleveland woman with mental illness died after police used takedown move, brother says
13 November 2014

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Updates on this case will be listed at the foot of this item Tanisha Anderson, 37 years old, tragically died on the night of the 12 November 2014. Tanisha, from Cleveland, Ohio had been diagnosed in her early 20's with bipolar disorder. She was prescribed medication for this and schizophrenia.

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The article is talking about the shooting of Tamir Rice, Tamir rice was seen holding a toy gun (fake) and 911 was called. Timothy Loehmann arrived at the scene and nearly three seconds after getting out of his police car he shot Tamir, later in 2017 timothy was fired from a job as a police officer.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/07/us/tamir-rice-officer-resigns-law-enforcement-position/index.html

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Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland, Ohio, police officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, resigned from his law enforcement position in Tioga Borough, Pennsylvania, days after he was sworn in, a borough official told CNN Thursday.

Loehmann had been slated to be the only police officer for Tioga Borough, according to the borough's mayor, David Wilcox, CNN affiliate News 5 Cleveland reported Wednesday. According to the latest Decennial Census data, the rural town in north central Pennsylvania boasted a population of 606 inhabitants in 2020.

Henry Hilow, an attorney who represents Loehmann, told CNN his client resigned from the Tioga Borough Police Department because of a conflict between Wilcox and the borough council. Loehmann had been sworn into his position earlier the same week by Wilcox, according to Tioga Borough Council President Steve Hazlett.

Both the mayor and the council were apprised of Loehmann's background, Hilow said, a subject they broached during his interview. However, where the council continued to back Loehmann's appointment to the police department, Wilcox did not, according to Hilow.

Loehmann felt the dispute wouldn't allow him to do his job to the best of his ability, so he resigned, Hilow said.

"He didn't want to be a distraction for people," he added. "The situation was discussed, as well as other questions of his qualifications to serve the community. In no way was there deceit by Mr. Loehmann."

CNN has reached out to Wilcox and his attorney. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wilcox said he was unaware of Loehmann's background, since the hiring and firing of the borough's lone officer is the purview of the borough council, News 5 reported. Wilcox attended Loehmann's interview - during which the ex-officer's time in Cleveland was discussed, though his involvement in Rice's death was not mentioned - after which Loehmann was "unanimously approved" by the council, News 5 reported.

"I was not allowed to take his resume or look into his background," News 5 quoted the mayor as saying.

According to Hilow, the mayor was well aware of Loehmann's background prior to his swearing in.

"It is disingenuous for the mayor to say otherwise," Hilow told CNN in a statement.

Hazlett confirmed to CNN that Loehmann has "withdrawn his application" and subsequently clarified that by "application" he meant Loehmann's position in the Tioga Borough Police Department.

Other borough officials did not respond to CNN's questions about Loehmann's employment history.

On November 22, 2014, Loehmann fatally shot Tamir Rice at a playground, three seconds after getting out of his patrol car, CNN previously reported.

At the time he was shot, Rice was holding a toy replica pistol. A witness called 911, reporting that an individual brandishing a firearm was in a park. The caller said the firearm was likely fake - but that information was not relayed to the dispatched officers. Loehmann was a trainee at the time.

An Ohio grand jury declined to criminally charge the officers in 2015.

Loehmann was eventually fired in 2017 - not for the shooting, but because investigators found he wasn't truthful about his employment history when he applied for the job.

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Officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice sworn in and resigned from new law enforcement position in the same week, official says | CNN

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Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland, Ohio, police officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, resigned from his law enforcement position in Tioga Borough, Pennsylvania, days after he was sworn in, a borough official told CNN Thursday.

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This article talks about the death of Freddie Gray, freddie gray had been arrested by Baltimore police based on misconceptions such as him having an illegal knife on him. Freddie Gray was dealt with very roughly by Baltimore police, it states they were using excessive force on him causing Freddie to have injuries. Freddie had been put into a police van and was requesting medical attention beforehand because he said couldn't breathe, Freddie did not receive any attention ad was neglected. Freddie died on Sunday in the hospital due to severe spine injuries, a week later demonstrates protested and chanted "black lives matter" and held banners for Freddie gray.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32400497

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Freddie Gray's death in police custody - what we know

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A police officer has been acquitted in relation to the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who died in hospital from spinal injuries a week after police took him into custody. But what happened the day of his arrest in Baltimore?

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article on the out raging killing of philando, on july 2016 police officer Jeronimo Yanez fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. The world had watched the aftermath and the video showing yanez shoot philando. yanez was found not guilty and faced no charges. people in minnesota helped developed new guidelines including philandos mother valerie to help avoid deadly shootings like those

https://www.mprnews.org/crime-law-and-justice/philandocastile

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Article on the shooting of Botham jean, Botham jean was shot in his chest on September 6, 2018, by amber guyger. Jean was their neighbor of amber and was in the backyard of his home at the time and amber claims she had mistaken him for a burglar or someone else and shot him. she was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison, Botham's brother hugged amber in court and said he forgives her.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/amber-guyger-sentencing-resumes-after-murder-conviction-death-botham-jean-n1061146

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Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer convicted of murder for fatally shooting her unarmed neighbor in his apartment, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison.

Guyger, 31, learned her fate after a sentencing hearing that included emotional testimony from the family of the victim, Botham Jean, and revelations that she shared racist and offensive texts and social media posts.

Prosecutors had asked jurors to sentence Guyger to at least 28 years - symbolic because Jean would have turned 28 last Sunday.

In a dramatic victim's impact statement, Jean's brother, Brandt Jean, forgave Guyger and embraced her in court.

Addressing Guyger directly, he said, "If you truly are sorry - I know I can speak for myself - I forgive you, and I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you."

Brandt Jean, who acknowledged that he was not speaking for his family, added: "I personally want the best for you. I wasn't even going to say this before my family, but I don't even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you, because I know that's exactly what Botham would want you to do - to give your life to Christ."

Brandt Jean then asked permission to hug Guyger, which was granted. He walked over to Guyger and embraced her for almost a full minute as loud sobs rang through the courtroom.

The Jeans' mother, Allison Jean, had testified Tuesday that she still struggles with the trauma of her son's death, saying: "I cannot sleep. I cannot eat. It's just been the most terrible time for me."

Guyger did not testify during her sentencing, but she has the opportunity to appeal the conviction in the unique case, which has gripped the city of Dallas and shattered the idea that law-abiding residents can be safe in their own homes.

Protesters blocked traffic in the area near the courthouse for about three hours Wednesday night, police said. One person who failed to clear the roadway was arrested.

The jury was allowed to consider whether Jean's death was the result of "sudden passion," which meant Guyger acted in the heat of the moment. It carried a lesser sentence of two to 20 years behind bars.

Guyger, a five-year police veteran, lived one floor below Jean, 26, an accountant, in their apartment complex. She testified that she was off-duty but in uniform when she mistakenly entered his unit on Sept. 6, 2018, after a long shift at work, believed Jean was a burglar and shot him in the chest, saying she feared for her safety.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics
Guyger is white, and Jean, a native of the island nation of St. Lucia who moved to Dallas for a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers, was black. His death stoked protests, led to Guyger's firing and renewed conversations about police use of force and racial bias.

During the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Guyger's mother, Karen Guyger, 66, testified that her then-boyfriend had molested Guyger when she was 6.

She said she reported the assault to police and that the man was arrested. NBC News was unable to immediately learn the outcome of the case.

Karen Guyger added that her daughter was distraught after killing Jean.

"She feels very bad about it," Karen Guyger said through tears.

Dallas County prosecutors built a case through Guyger's police disciplinary records, texts and social media posts to speak to her character and argue that she was undeserving of a lenient sentence.

Jurors were shown three Pinterest posts that Guyger had saved to her account and commented on. They included the picture of a military sniper with text that read: "Stay low, go fast; kill first, die last; one shot, one kill; no luck, all skill."

In another Pinterest post, Guyger commented under a picture of a Minion from the movie "Despicable Me": "People are so ungrateful. No one ever thanks me for having the patience not to kill them," the comment read.

New texts were also shown to jurors between Guyger and her married work partner, Officer Martin Rivera, with whom she had been having an affair. Prosecutors had revealed their sexually explicit texts during the trial, although the defense downplayed them, saying the two were already "ramping down" their relationship by the time the shooting occurred.

Rivera texted to Guyger in March 2018: "Damn I was at this area with 5 different black officers !!! Not racist but damn."

She responded: "Not racist but just have a different way of working and it shows."

Guyger texted with another officer last year about the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Dallas.

"When does this end lol," the officer wrote to Guyger.

"When MLK is dead ... oh wait ...," she joked.

Two days before Guyger fatally shot Jean, she texted with someone who had adopted a German Shepherd.

The dog's owner wrote of the animal: "Although she may be racist."

Guyger responded, "It's okay ... I'm the same," and later added: "I hate everything and everyone but y'all."

During the sentencing phase, defense attorney Toby Shook asked the jury to think about how Guyger helped others as an officer and largely glossed over the derogatory texts.

"Through these horrible series of events, she went into his apartment by mistake," Shook said. "She pulled that trigger in an instant - an instant she will regret for the rest of her life. ... She didn't go there seeking to kill him."

Jean was watching television and eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream in his living room just before 10 p.m. when Guyger burst inside, likely scaring him, prosecutors said at trial. Guyger testified that she used her electronic key fob in the lock but that the door still pushed open and that she immediately drew her service weapon once she was inside.

The trajectory of the bullet showed that Jean was either getting up from his couch or cowering when Guyger fired at him, the prosecution said.

The jury, made up of mostly women and people of color, deliberated for about five hours to convict Guyger and has been sequestered during the trial, which began Sept. 23.

Guyger was taken into custody at the end of the first day of the sentencing phase, which started after the verdict was read Tuesday. She was booked into the Dallas County Jail.

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Amber Guyger sentenced to 10 years for murdering neighbor in his apartment

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Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer convicted of murder for fatally shooting her unarmed neighbor in his apartment, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison. Guyger, 31, learned her fate after a sentencing hearing that included emotional testimony from the family of the victim, Botham Jean, and revelations that she shared racist and offensive texts and social media posts.

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The article talks about the death of Breonna Taylor. Breonna Taylor was an African American woman who was shot and killed by police officers who forced entry into her apartment. police officers Mr. meany and Mr. Jaynes violated breonnas civil rights and were later sued by her family.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62427546

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Breonna Taylor: US police charged over shooting death

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The hospital worker was shot multiple times as officers stormed her home in a “no-knock” raid in 2020.

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In this article is about George Floyd's death from police brutality. George Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Floyd was in a convenience store and a worker was suspicious of him the police were called and when they arrived George Floyd was arrested but he resisted and stated he was claustrophobic. he was pinned to the ground by chauvins knee on his neck for 10 mins and was unresponsive, an ambulance had come but he already passed. Chauvin was imprisoned for 22 years. Floyd's death caused protests all across the globe and set off the chant "I can breath" and "black lives matter" as well

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-floyd-killed-by-police-officer

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On the evening of May 25, 2020, white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kills George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes. The death, recorded by bystanders, touched off what is possibly the largest protest movement in U.S. history and a nationwide reckoning on race and policing.

The 46-year-old Floyd, a Houston native and father of five, had purchased cigarettes at a Minneapolis convenience store. After a clerk suspected that Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 bill in the transaction, the store manager called the police. When officers arrived, they pulled a gun on Floyd, who initially cooperated as he was arrested. However, Floyd resisted being placed in the police car, saying he was claustrophobic. Officers eventually pulled him from the car and Chauvin pinned him to the ground for nine minutes and 29 seconds. Floyd was unresponsive when an ambulance came and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

After video of the incident was posted on Facebook, protests began almost immediately in Minneapolis and quickly spread across the nation. Demonstrators chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "I Can't Breathe" took to the streets from coast to coast, and police departments around the country responded with riot-control tactics. Floyd's murder came after protests over the killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Atlanta in February and of Breonna Taylor in Louisville in March, and also came in the third month of nationwide lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By early June, protests were so widespread that over 200 American cities had imposed curfews and half of the United States had activated the National Guard. Marches continued and spread throughout June, despite the restrictions on gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic and militarized resistance from federal and local law enforcement.

All told, more than 2,000 cities and towns in all 50 states saw some form of demonstration in the weeks after Floyd's death, as well as major cities across the globe.

The protests set off local and national dialogue about the role and budgets of American police departments, as well as intense discussions in schools and corporations about how to end racism and create inclusivity, equality and equity.

Chauvin, who had at least 17 other misconduct complaints lodged against him prior to killing Floyd, was arrested on May 29, 2020 and charged with second-degree and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. On April 20, 2021, after a trial, which was broadcast live online and on TV due to the pandemic, a jury found Chauvin guilty of all charges. He was later sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

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George Floyd is killed by a police officer, igniting historic protests

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On the evening of May 25, 2020, white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kills George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes. The death, recorded by bystanders, touched off what is possibly the largest protest movement in U.S. history and a nationwide reckoning on race and policing.

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the article is written about the wrongful death of Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old black man that was killed by police officers. he was walking from a convenience store when cops stopped him and restrained him, one of the officers kneeled on his back and Ellis kept saying he couldn't breathe, this caused Ellis to have no oxygen and die. People close to Ellis claimed he had been doing great in his life during that time and was finally getting things together. this triggered people nationwide and many plead for justice and protested.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/manuel-ellis-police-death-lawsuit-false-perceptions/

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The family of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers who have since been charged criminally, has filed a federal lawsuit over his death. Attorneys for Ellis' sister, Monet Carter-Mixon, and mother, Marcia Carter, filed the civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma late Friday against the city of Tacoma, Pierce County and several individual officers.

Neither the city nor the county immediately responded to emails seeking comment.

Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died March 3, 2020, just weeks before George Floyd's death triggered a nationwide reckoning on race and policing. Police stopped him while he was walking home from a convenience store with a box of doughnuts and a bottle of water, the complaint noted.

"He was deemed suspicious by the officers and they beat, tased, choked, and hogtied him as a result of their false perceptions of Manuel Ellis that are irretrievably linked to his race," the lawsuit said.

Ellis repeatedly told the officers he couldn't breathe as he was restrained. Three officers who were charged in May have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder or manslaughter.

"We will not let Manny be forgotten," attorney Matthew A. Ericksen Sr. said in an email announcing the lawsuit. "We are 100% committed to holding people accountable for his killing and doing our best to effect change in Tacoma and the nation."

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson charged Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins, who are white, with second-degree murder after witnesses reported that they attacked Ellis without provocation.

Officer Timothy Rankine, who is Asian, faces a charge of first-degree manslaughter. He is accused of kneeling on Ellis' back and shoulder as Ellis repeatedly told them he couldn't breathe, according to a probable cause statement filed in Pierce County Superior Court.

The family's lawyer, James Bible, previously told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV that the family was unaware of how many officers were initially involved. He also said that eyewitness videos contradict the police officers' written recollections of the incident.

"There was a remarkable coverup by the city of Tacoma and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office," said Bible.

The Pierce County medical examiner called Ellis' death a homicide because of a lack of oxygen caused by restraint, with an enlarged heart and methamphetamine intoxication as contributing factors.

The death made Ellis' name synonymous with pleas for justice at protests in the Pacific Northwest. His final words - "I can't breathe, sir!" - were captured by a home security camera, as was the retort from one of the officers: "Shut the (expletive) up, man."

Ellis, who loved playing drums in his church band and had reportedly been doing well in the months before his death, had a history of mental illness and addiction. In September 2019, he was found naked after trying to rob a fast food restaurant. A sheriff's deputy subdued him with a Taser after he refused to remain down on the ground and charged toward law enforcement.

His family's lawsuit said it was seeking "immense" damages, but it did not include a specific amount. The family previously suggested it was seeking $30 million.

The officers charged in his death could face up to life in prison if convicted. But the standard sentencing range is 10 to 18 years for second-degree murder with no prior criminal history and 6.5 to 8.5 years for manslaughter.

The officers have been released on bond pending their trials.

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Police "tased, choked and hogtied" Manuel Ellis over "false perceptions," wrongful death lawsuit says

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The family of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers who have since been charged criminally, has filed a federal lawsuit over his death. Attorneys for Ellis' sister, Monet Carter-Mixon, and mother, Marcia Carter, filed the civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit in U.S.

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The death of George floyd was the biggest turning point in the Black lives matter movement.