FBI Fires 20 Agents for Kneeling at 2020 Protest For George Floyd

The FBI has fired roughly 20 agents who were photographed kneeling during the 2020 racial justice protests, a move that has renewed questions about how institutions handle expressions of solidarity. Reports note that “the photographs at issue showed a group of agents taking the knee during one of the demonstrations following the May 2020 killing of Floyd.” For protesters, that moment of kneeling carried weight — it was grief and defiance rolled into one. To now see agents punished for it makes clear the ongoing clash between communities asking for accountability and systems that push back against even small signs of support.

About 20 agents were let go, sparking immediate pushback. The FBI Agents Association said “more than a dozen agents had been fired, including military veterans with additional statutory protections,” calling the move unlawful. They accused Director Kash Patel of “ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process.” At the same time, the bureau is already facing a wave of forced resignations and terminations, leaving insiders warning of sinking morale.

For those who marched in 2020, the message feels familiar. Peaceful gestures — kneeling, chanting, holding a sign — were often met with suspicion instead of being recognized as free expression. Now, even within government ranks, a single kneel can cost someone their career. It echoes the climate where millions watched George Floyd’s arrest unfold on camera, sparking outrage, yet institutions still punish anyone who aligns, even symbolically, with that demand for change.

The FBI insists “nobody is above the law,” but firing people for a brief gesture of solidarity feels less like law and more like silencing. A lawsuit from former officials even claims leadership knew some actions “were likely illegal” but pushed forward anyway to reshape the agency. For many who lived through the 2020 uprisings, this isn’t just about workplace rules — it’s about whether those chants of “I can’t breathe” were ever truly heard.

Link: APNews