The FBI on Monday posted to social media a request for photos and videos of individuals provoking violence during the nationwide peaceful demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd last week. But many on Twitter quickly began sharing video clips and photos of police cracking down violently on protesters.
"The FBI is seeking information and digital media depicting individuals inciting violence during First Amendment protected peaceful demonstrations," the FBI wrote on its Twitter account. The post included a link to get more information on the bureau's website.
"To help us identify actors who are actively instigating violence in the wake of George Floyd's death, the FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting violent encounters surrounding the civil unrest that is happening throughout the country," the webpage explained. "If you witness or have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant to the case."
Although it appeared that the bureau was looking for information on violent protesters and outside agitators taking advantage of the demonstrations, many social media users thought that the FBI should be scrutinizing the police as well.
"Here's some," Twitter user Jordan Uhl wrote, sharing a compilation clip showing officers attacking demonstrators and driving a vehicle through a crowd of protesters.
Many others shared similar videos and images. In some, an officer or officers attack a group of protesters, seemingly unprovoked. Other clips showed police spraying tear gas in protesters' faces or shoving them violently to the ground.
Representative Karen Bass, a Democrat from California, even shared a photo of President Donald Trump, suggesting the FBI investigate his actions. "Found one," Bass wrote in her Twitter post.
Asked whether the FBI planned to investigate alleged police brutality, a spokesperson at the bureau's national press office referred Newsweek to the press release on its website. "We do not have any further comment," the person added.
Mass demonstrations have taken place across the U.S. following the May 25 death of Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police. A viral video of the incident shows white police officer Derek Chauvin pinning down Floyd, a black man, and kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd repeatedly yells "I can't breathe" as onlookers urge the officer to stop.
Despite their pleas, Floyd stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterward. Chauvin and three other officers have been fired over the incident, while Chauvin has also been charged with murder and manslaughter.
But protests have continued across the country, as activists point to what many see as systemic racism in policing nationwide. Although the protests have been largely peaceful, some individuals have turned to vandalism and looting. Some police officers have also responded violently in cities across the country.
This article has been updated with a tweet from Representative Karen Bass.
jakobpinders on June 2nd, 2020 at 18:18 UTC »
List of incidents of police brutality since the protests started.
Working on a list, please feel free to share it:
firing something at innocent person on their porch:
https://streamable.com/u2jzoo
cop appearing to be enjoying himself today:
https://v.redd.it/jjclrdzp8x151
cop shooting something at guy for saying "fuck you":
https://v.redd.it/zepg0b43ly151
cops breaking supplies for peaceful protestors:
https://v.redd.it/v8x8isj0xz151
nypd driving into protestors:
https://v.redd.it/mztm15kh00251 https://gfycat.com/misguidedrecklesscod
cops shoving an old dude to the ground:
https://v.redd.it/bluggpblrz151
police actively seeking out fights compilation:
https://v.redd.it/m82yxl4qh0251
cop driving at people aggressively on a campus:
https://v.redd.it/ngxvkoro60251
cop shooting rubber bullets at people watching from apartment:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Sarah_Mojarad/status/1266633046591078400?s=09
police shooting the press with rubber bullets:
https://v.redd.it/o3v8ps7rat151
police arresting a CNN reporter:
https://v.redd.it/yce9bpk8mo151
police doing a drive-by pepper spraying
https://mobile.twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1266193926316228609
photographer being pepper sprayed:
https://i.redd.it/4ix8f3j6dy151.jpg
guy with hands in the air gets his mask ripped off and pepper sprayed:
https://v.redd.it/wlx0gyoe21251
lady who was coming home with groceries who got a rubber bullet to the head:
https://i.redd.it/ns0uj557x0251.jpg
https://mobile.twitter.com/KevinRKrause/status/1266898396339675137
reporter blinded by rubber bullets:
https://mobile.twitter.com/KillerMartinis/status/1266618525600399361?s=19
reporter describes getting tear gassed:
https://mobile.twitter.com/mollyhf/status/1266911382613692422
couple getting yanked out of their car and tased for violating curfew:
https://mobile.twitter.com/GAFollowers/status/1266919104574865410?s=19
young woman gets shoved to the ground by officer:
https://mobile.twitter.com/whitney_hu/status/1266540710188195843?s=20
reporter sheltering in gas station is pepper sprayed: https://twitter.com/MichaelAdams317
reporter trying to get home gets window shot out: https://twitter.com/JaredGoyette/status/1266961243476299778
cops come at a guy for filming a police car burning:
https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1266953514242228229
photographer arrested:
https://youtu.be/9wgkGLmphLE
Columbus police assaulting protestors:
https://twitter.com/KRobPhoto/status/1266796191469252610
congresswoman sprayed with pepper spray during protest:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/30/politics/joyce-beatty-ohio-pepper-sprayed-columbus-protest/index.html
7 protesters fired on with rubber bullets:
https://v.redd.it/tal1ncha4o151
cops pepper spraying a group of protestors without provocation https://v.redd.it/0dxnkso0a1251
young child allegedly pepper sprayed:
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/video-shows-milk-poured-over-face-of-child-pepper-sprayed-in-seattle-protest
horse tramples young woman, police investigating: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/05/30/watch-video-captures-moment-police-horse-tramples-woman-during-houston-rally/
cop pushes protestor with his bike
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1266797973834395648?s=20
Reuters reporters detail being shot at with rubber bullets:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-update/reuters-cameraman-hit-by-rubber-bullets-as-police-disperse-protesters-idUSKBN237050
Cincinnati Police shooting at people sitting down and macing a knocked out dude in the face
https://mobile.twitter.com/kodyfishertv/status/1266901735198638082
Cop pushing through other officers to shove & pepper spray a group of protesters standing with their hands up.
https://twitter.com/alexbandea/status/1266933734277873664
Cop shooting unarmed protester.
https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/gtv6ug/downtown_salt_lake_city_may_30th_2020_unarmed/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
Cops leaving protest shoot paper ball at person on the sidewalk:
https://twitter.com/heyydnae/status/1267139396278661121?s=21
Austin police firing rubber bullets at a peaceful crowd:
https://twitter.com/ironfront7/status/1267133400156196870?s=21
Omaha - known racist shoots and kills young black protester. Questioned and released (on a Saturday night) without charges
https://www.omaha.com/news/crime/slain-protester-identified-downtown-omaha-assesses-damage-from-vandalism/article_0238d156-cea2-54b8-9a54-05e4e6e3ea42.html?fbclid=IwAR2N07VChdIg5wFm7kCd1FH3eZmhblhPSjpqjK0SZMQq0ecRE9cOGoG4SxM#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social
Man pepper sprayed in his own apartment on 2nd floor. Richmond, VA
https://twitter.com/greg_doucette/status/1267213758360846338?s=19
Cops shoot pepper balls into an apartment windows. https://twitter.com/GIFsZP/status/1267241803750813703
LV - just waking. Literally that’s all.
https://twitter.com/lasvegaslocally/status/1267210841595604992?s=21
Madison WI - This video that I took last night of a police officer pepper spraying a peaceful protestor with their arms up:
https://twitter.com/NeonMarionette/status/1266962885957292032?s=20
cops come at a guy for filming a police car burning:
https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1266953514242228229
video compilation of most of these links:
https://youtu.be/OIgw1VJJLIM
/r/2020PoliceBrutality for a community to post and discuss the events
if you have anything you'd like to add please link it!
Not my original comment, please copy and share
Rickleskilly on June 2nd, 2020 at 18:09 UTC »
Theres over 100 incidents of police targeting journalists alone. If they are brazen enough to attack journalists on camera, with thousands of witnesses, I can't even imagine how many videos there are of police misconduct against protesters. How that's handled will determine if there are more protests or not.
memesandbees on June 2nd, 2020 at 17:57 UTC »
Well what were they expecting?
Edit: Reporting crimes against civilians is the very first step in changing things. Rightwing trolls will be organized and actively reporting honest, peaceful activists and it makes it even easier for them to be targeted if we're not reporting real crimes.