Demanding Change and Racial Justice

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This chapter covers the public protests that occurred during the spring and summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In order to understand how the public protests became the largest public demonstrations since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the chapter first details the historical factors that set the stage for these demonstrations. The chapter then explains the elements of the Covid-19 pandemic that helped shape the protests and make these demonstrations unique from prior calls for racial and social justice. The empirical research and analysis conducted about factors leading up to the demonstrations, the demonstrations themselves, and their impact were reviewed to provide context. The chapter concludes by delving into the implications of these demonstrations for public perceptions, public policy, and future social justice movements.