More than a year of nationwide protests of police violence against people of color begin on this day, six years ago, in Minneapolis, in response to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police during an arrest on suspicion that he had used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. A bystander livestreams the murder.

Three months into the worldwide COVID-19 lockdown, tens of millions of people take to the streets in over 2000 cities and towns, unified by the slogan, “Black Lives Matter.” While generally peaceful, some looting and arson is associated with the protests, as well as violence both against and committed by police.

Four officers are fired and convicted on civil rights charges as a result of Floyd’s death. One officer is sentenced to 22½ years in prison for the murder.