How George Floyd’s Murder Changed America

On May 25, 2020, the world watched a horrifying video: a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, ignoring his cries of “I can’t breathe.” George Floyd was an unarmed Black man. His death was painful to watch — and it sparked something powerful.

People across the country — and around the world — took to the streets. In the middle of a pandemic, millions protested against police brutality and racial injustice. From small towns to big cities, Americans of all races marched under the banner of Black Lives Matter. It was the largest wave of protests in the U.S. since the 1960s civil rights movement.

A Moment of Unity… at First

At first, most Americans agreed something had to change. Polls showed about two-thirds of the country supported the protests. Even people who had never spoken out before began to talk about racism, police reform, and justice.

But that unity didn’t last long.

Division Grows

As some protests were met with tear gas and rubber bullets — or turned chaotic with looting — the political divide grew. Conservatives began focusing on “law and order,” calling the protests dangerous or violent. Liberals focused on the cause, pointing to long-standing racism in our systems.

Trust in police split sharply along party lines. A USA Today/Ipsos poll showed deep racial and political differences in how Americans viewed Floyd’s death and law enforcement in general. What started as a national moment of reckoning quickly became another front in the country’s culture wars.

Corporate America and the Culture Shift

The impact didn’t stop at the protests. Companies, sports teams, and celebrities began to speak out. Big brands pledged to fight racism. The NFL admitted it had been wrong to ignore players who had peacefully protested earlier. Confederate statues were removed. Streets were painted with “Black Lives Matter” in giant yellow letters.

But these changes also brought backlash. Some people felt the focus on race went too far. Words like “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” became targets for conservative media. The term “woke” — once used to describe being aware of injustice — became a political insult. And “critical race theory,” an academic idea most Americans had never heard of, became a national flashpoint.

Impact on Elections and the Bigger Picture

All this fed directly into election politics. Candidates on both sides used the protests and culture battles in their campaigns. Some Democrats embraced the movement for justice, while many Republicans warned of rising crime and “anti-police” attitudes.

The murder of George Floyd forced America to look in the mirror — but it also exposed just how divided we already were. Even our reactions to injustice became political.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

What happened in 2020 changed the country. It made more people aware of racial inequality. It pushed businesses and leaders to speak out. It showed the power of protest — and the depth of our divisions.

But it also left us with big questions: Can we have hard conversations without turning on each other? Can we fix systems without turning every issue into a culture war? Can we make room for both justice and safety?

We don’t have to agree on everything. But maybe we can agree to keep listening — and keep trying.