The Protest crackdown
Early protests were largely peaceful, with even some police officers participating in marches or taking a knee to show solidarity. But as the movement grew, officials escalated their response, sending National Guard units to many cities and increasing the number of Department of Homeland Security agents in the region.
The violence that followed was alarming, with protesters shot by helicopters and police deploying tear gas and riot guns. Lawmakers also responded with a wave of anti-protest legislation, including in some Democratic-run states. By 2021, 92 bills had been introduced in 35 states.
At least six people died during the protests, including Yzarra Bolivar, a 67-year-old retiree who was hit in the chest with pepper spray and then shot in the head by a National Guard officer. His death certificate, reviewed by Human Rights Watch, said he died of acute hemorrhagic shock due to perforation of the thoracic organs. Several other demonstrators were injured and hospitalized with fractured skulls or lacerations.
There was also widespread vandalism and destruction of property, ranging from a broken window at a convenience store to an incident in which a white supremacist prison and street gang member hurled an umbrella at a crowd in Minneapolis, breaking windows in several blocks (Forbes, 27 May 2020; KSTP, 28 May 2020). There were also reports of agents provocateurs — or infiltrators who were posing as protesters to encourage them to engage in violent acts.
The government’s repressive tactics also included canceling passports to prevent activists from leaving the country, harassing journalists and shutting down news outlets, and conducting abusive raids in low-income communities.
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