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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly terminated a group of agents who were photographed kneeling during racial justice demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, according to US media outlets.
CBS News, the BBC’s US broadcast partner, cited a source indicating the dismissals were based on an alleged “lack of judgment” displayed by the agents. Reports suggest between 15 and 20 agents have been dismissed.
The agents reportedly participated in taking a knee alongside protesters in 2020. The death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck, sparked international outrage.
The FBI Agents Association has condemned the terminations, asserting that the agents’ rights were violated. The FBI has so far declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the BBC.
These reported firings occur amid the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate what it perceives as left-leaning and “woke” policies and personnel from across the federal government.
At the time, several right-wing commentators voiced criticism of agents and police officers depicted kneeling in social media posts.
Proponents of the agents’ actions have argued that kneeling was a de-escalation tactic aimed at reducing tensions with protesters, rather than an endorsement of their views.
The act of kneeling became a symbol of opposition to racial injustice, particularly after viral footage showed Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes while he was restrained.
An official autopsy concluded that Floyd died of a heart attack caused by neck compression. Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year sentence for Floyd’s murder.
Taking a knee had previously been adopted as a form of protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the US, notably by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
This mass dismissal follows a series of recent terminations at the FBI.
Former acting director Brian Driscoll, former assistant director in charge of the Washington field office Steven Jensen, and Spencer Evans, former special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office, have all been recently dismissed.
Earlier this month, the three former agents filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel and US Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming they were terminated to appease President Donald Trump.
In its Friday statement, the FBI Agents Association asserted that Patel’s “dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau” and are making it “harder to recruit and retain skilled agents – ultimately putting our nation at greater risk.”
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