The FBI has reportedly terminated a group of agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington DC in 2020, following the death of George Floyd. According to unnamed sources cited by US media, between 15 to 20 agents were dismissed on Friday, though the exact number remains unconfirmed. The agents had joined demonstrators in taking a knee, a gesture that became a global symbol of dissent against police brutality and racial injustice after Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer who knelt on his neck for over nine minutes. The FBI Agents Association condemned the dismissals, claiming the agents’ rights were violated. The FBI has declined to comment on the matter. The firings occur amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate perceived left-wing or ‘woke’ policies and personnel across federal agencies. While critics argue the kneeling was a tactic to de-escalate tensions, others view it as a political statement. This incident follows a series of high-profile dismissals within the FBI, including former acting director Brian Driscoll and other senior officials, some of whom have sued FBI leadership, alleging politically motivated terminations.
FBI fires agents pictured kneeling at George Floyd protest, US media reports
