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Trayvon Martin is shot and fatally shot and killed while on a trip home from a convenience store by George Zimmerman. -
On March 21st hundreds of people gathered for the Million Hoodie March and demanded justice for Martin, who many believed Zimmerman had profiled as suspicious and threatening simply because the teen was Black. Before this there were many protests rallies were held nationwide. -
President Barack Obama says "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon." also in addition it raising a national debate about race relations, the shooting of Trayvon drew attention to Florida’s controversial 'Stand Your Ground' law which allows people to use lethal force if they fear for their safety and does not require them to retreat from a dangerous situation, even when it’s possible to do so. -
A special prosecutor appointed by Florida’s governor had finally charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder. Zimmerman had pleaded not guilty, and the case went to trial in June 2013. Prosecutors tried to poke holes in Zimmerman’s self-defense claim by pointing to inconsistencies in his statements to the police. Defense attorneys for Zimmerman contended he only shot Martin after the teen attacked him. After deliberating for 16 hours over two days, a jury of six women found Zimmerman not guilty. -
In 2013, three radical Black organizers Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi created a Black centered political movement building project that they had called Black Lives Matter or #BlackLivesMatter in response to the not guilty verdict of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. -
On the 17th of July in 2014 Eric Garner was wrestled to the ground by police in New York for supposedly illegally selling cigarettes and put into a choke hold. While in a choke hold Garner had repeated 11 times "I can't breath". The entire incident was filmed by a bystander leading to more protests across the country. -
Michael Brown had reached into the cop's car and punched Darren Wilson, they had a struggle in which Brown had reached for the cop's gun according to many witnesses but failed and was shot. Brown had run and while running looked back which is when the fatal shots were fired. Darren Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing but the DOJ was scathing about systemic problems in the Ferguson police and racial disparities in the justice system. This led to violent protests. -
Tamir Rice was shot by a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio after some reports of a male "possibly a juvenile" pointing a gun that was "probably fake" at passers by. -
Walter Scott was shot in the back five times by a white police officer, who was later fired and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison. Walter had been pulled over for having a defective light and running from the police after a brief scuffle. -
Stephon Clark was shot at least 7 times in his Grandmothers Backyard in Sacramento, California, by police who were investigating a nearby break in. -
Alton Sterling was shot to death by two officers on Baton Rouge. -
Philando Castile was pulled over by the police during a routine check and had told them he was licensed to carry a weapon and had one in his possession. Philando Castile was shot and killed as he reached for his license. -
Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was shot eight times when officers raided her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville police said they returned fire after one officer was shot at and wounded. -
George Floyd was killed by a police officer who had been holding down George Floyd with his knee on his neck for nine minutes -
Daniel Penny had put Jordan Neely in a chokehold which had killed him. Jordan Neely was a decently well-known Michael Jackson impersonator