Global Politics Explainer

CWA # 1731
Global Politics Explainer
Five years after George Floyd’s death: 
Where does the Black Lives Matter Movement stand today?

Farhaz Rashid Ahmed
25 June 2025

Photo Source: Reuters

On 25 May, George Floyd’s death marked the fifth anniversary. He was an African American who was killed by a police officer . He was pleading for his life on camera during the tragic event, and the footage went viral online. The killing called for racial justice, to stop police brutality, and sparked one of the biggest protest movements in US history. Although the incident initially activated the global outrage, the momentum surrounding the cause waned over the past five years.

Who was George Floyd?
George Floyd was an African American who was killed in a tragic incident involving the police on 25 May 2020. The incident was a result of a store clerk informing the police that Floyd paid a counterfeit of USD 20 bill. While arresting, the police officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee over Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, although Floyd kept repeating, “I can't breathe.” Floyd lost consciousness and was declared dead at the hospital.

Floyd’s killing and the BLM in the US
The video of Floyd’s arrest that was shot by a bystander went viral and shook the world. His death became the symbol of the deeper and longstanding issues of racial injustice and police brutality that were seen in the United States. The killing revived the Black Lives Matter movement, leading to weeks of protests across the US. 

There were also protests outside the US, for example, in the United Kingdom, which saw large demonstrations. Later, Derek Chauvin was convicted and sentenced to 22.5 years in jail, a situation that many see as a rare example of police accountability, though a call for broader systemic change is still there.

Five years later, where is the BLM today?
In 2020, it brought renewed focus on systematic racism, issues of police brutality and reforms in criminal justice. The public support for the BLM surged as nearly two-thirds of Americans supported the movement in mid-2020.
The movement inspired many subsequent changes. The US cities and states re-examined their police practices and allocated funds towards community programs. It banned certain restraint tactics for police, such as “chokeholds” and “carotid restraints.” Many corporations and institutions have shown support for racial justice by spending billions on initiatives on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Subsequently, the BLM became quieter by focusing on working on smaller levels to create lasting and long-term reforms, such as supporting racial justice legislation and pushing for police accountability. 

Why did the BLM decline? What next?
First, a shift in public attention to the pandemic and inflation. Issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and growing political polarisation led to increased scepticism. Failure of major federal reforms, such as the 2021 George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, also frustrated supporters hoping for lasting change. Second, controversies over financial transparency. Issues within the BLM Global Network Foundation further damaged the movement’s credibility and drew criticism. However, subsided protests resulted in reduced coverage of the movement’s public presence. Third, the decentralised nature of BLM. It was once seen as a strength, which later led to further fragmentation. Thus, many independent chapters and the absence of central leadership made it difficult to align with the national goals.

The Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum initially by creating awareness on racism and police violence. Currently, even if it is not a headline in the news. The movement still impacts society by living through ongoing efforts in community-building, grassroots organising and policy advocacy. These efforts are not just about marches or headlines, but rather more about the regular commitment to building a fair and just world for everyone.

References
Bianca Flowers and Stephanie Kelly, “Four years after George Floyd killing, police reform slow to follow,” Reuters, 25 May 2024
“Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years for George Floyd murder,” Al Jazeera, 25 June 2021
Eric Levenson, “Derek Chauvin is on trial for George Floyd’s death. America’s criminal justice system is not” CNN, 30 March 2021
Adria R Walker ,“US adults’ belief in impact of BLM protests consistently decreased since 2020 – study,” The Guardian, 7 May 2025
“Inside the Big Issue: The rise and fall of Black Lives Matter,” The Big Issue, 19 May 2025

About the author
Farhaz Rashid Ahmed is pursuing an undergraduate degree at the Department of International Relations, Peace & Public Policy, St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru.


 

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