The police are violent towards people protesting the murder of George Floyd

On May 26th, 2020, protests began to occur in every major city in the United States, following the death of George Floyd. Though the majority of these protests were peaceful, many incidents of police violence took place between protestors and the police. Videos of the police violence that occurred during protests have spread across social media, providing proof of violent incidents involving police. Hundreds of videos involving police violence against journalists have surfaced as well. Videos show protesters met with pepper spray, rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons, as well as physical assault by police officers.^[1] The US guarantees the right to freedom of speech and the right to protest. The violence police officers have inflicted against peaceful protestors undermines the protestors and their civil rights. Though some argue the police have used these tactics to protect themselves, disturbing videos have shown that the use of these tactics without provocation by protestors. Instead, its use incites fear and gains control over protesters. New York City has seen many of these incidents, including an instance that happened on May 30th, 2020, when police officers drove through a crowd of Brooklyn protestors, knocking many to the ground. ^[2] Women and elderly protestors were victims of this heinous violence as well, infringing on their rights to peaceful protests and freedom of speech. Protesters are reacting proportionally to their treatment by police. The police and critics of the protest are bending the narrative, demonizing the protesters.