page_title: George Floyd protests in New York City
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: George Floyd protests in New York City / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: Rally in Grand Army Plaza after the death of George Floyd
context_page_description: New York City has been the site of several protests against the killing of George Floyd since May 28, 2020, with demonstrations taking place in all of the city's five boroughs. Most of the events have been peaceful, while some involved protester and/or police violence, as well as looting. As a result, and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the city was put under a curfew on June 1 through June 7. The protests catalyzed efforts at police reform, leading to the criminalization of chokeholds during arrests and other legislation.
context_section_description: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African-American man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A video of the incident depicting the officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for an extended period, attracted widespread outrage leading to local, national, and international protests and demonstrations.
  In New York City, reactions to the incident drew comparisons to Eric Garner, who died after being put in a chokehold by police in Staten Island in 2014, likewise sparking a national outcry and becoming a major event in the Black Lives Matter movement. Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, participated in several of the demonstrations after the death of George Floyd. The New York Police Department has been the subject of frequent criticism for its treatment of black citizens, including use of racial profiling, its stop-and-frisk program, high-profile cases of police violence, and the use of mass arrests and heavy-handed tactics against protesters.
caption: Protesters placed a stencil over the Central Brooklyn Public Library digital sign which reads "George Floyd was lynched by police".
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