How Black Lives Matter Reached Every Corner of America
Population of cities with protests
>500,000
<50,000
50,000-100,000
100,000-500,000
Population of cities with protests
<50,000
50,000-100,000
>500,000
100,000-500,000
Kerem Yucel/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Minneapolis
Josh Galemore/Arizona Daily Star, via Associated
Tucson, Ariz.
Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times, via Associated Press
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times
Manhattan, N.Y.
Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images
Ferguson, Mo.
Thom Bridge/Independent Record, via Associated Press
Helena, Mont.
Bryan Denton for The New York Times
Santa Monica, Calif.
Hilary Swift
South Royalton, Vt.
Matty Leong
Honolulu
Alyson Mcclaran/Reuters
Denver
Kirsten Luce for The New York Times
Manhattan, N.Y.
Jake May/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press
Flint, Mich.
Mark Lambie/The El Paso Times, via Associated Press
El Paso
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, via Associated Press
Eugene, Ore.
Nicole Neri/Reuters
Phoenix
Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press
Portland, Maine
Eric Gay/Associated Press
San Antonio
Erik Branch for The New York Times
Louisville, Ky.
Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune, via Associated Press
Mishawaka, Ind.
On any given day, they spill out onto the streets, driven by fury.
They march. They kneel. They sing.
They cry. They pray. They light candles.
They chant and shout, urgent voices, muffled behind masks.
They block freeways and bridges and fill public squares. They press their bodies into hot asphalt, silently breathing for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
They do all this beneath the watchful gaze of uniformed police officers standing sentry.
May 26
Minneapolis
Kerem Yucel/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
May 27
Memphis
Adrian Sainz/Associated Press
Oakdale, Minn.
Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune, via Associated Press
Los Angeles
Ringo H.W. Chiu/Associated Press
Before this moment of America’s reckoning with race, the warm spring air was already charged.
A killer virus had ripped through black communities. Bullets, too.
Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. And then the death of a black man after an encounter with a white police officer, who pressed his left knee on the neck of the man the world now knows as George Floyd.
His death during the last light of Memorial Day has unleashed one of the most explosive trials of American racism in modern times.
May 28
Albuquerque
Anthony Jackson/The Albuquerque Journal
Manhattan, N.Y.
Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Louisville, Ky.
Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal, via Associated Press
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Nicole Hester/Ann Arbor News, via Associated Press
Ferguson, Mo.
Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images
Denver
Alyson Mcclaran/Reuters
St. Paul, Minn.
John Minchillo/Associated Press
Columbus, Ohio
Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
Cumulative rage, despair and grief surged like a tidal wave at dawn. Protesters stormed the intersection where Mr. Floyd drew his last breath. Hastily scrawled posters, held steady by clenched fists, rose above the sea of heads.
A black man killed — this time in Minneapolis, this one unambiguously captured on video — gave way to collective anguish and demands for action.
May 29
Atlanta
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
College Station, Texas
Michael Miller/The Bryan-College Station Eagle
Phoenix
Nicole Neri/Reuters
Los Angeles
Bryan Denton for The New York Times
Washington, D.C.
Evan Vucci/Associated Press
Tucson, Ariz.
Josh Galemore/Arizona Daily Star, via Associated
Windermere, Fla.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
Violence against African-Americans is a familiar song. You know their names: Trayvon Martin; Tamir Rice; Michael Brown; Philando Castile; Sandra Bland; and Eric Garner, who uttered the same anguished pleas as Mr. Floyd — “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”
But never before have the cries carried this kind of muscle. Among American voters, support for the Black Lives Matter movement grew in the first two weeks of protests almost as much as it did in the preceding two years.
Des Moines
Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register, via Associated Press
Lexington, Ky.
Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader, via Associated Press
Chicago
John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune, via Associated Press
Minneapolis
Victor J. Blue for The New York Times
New Orleans
Jonathan Bachman/Reuters
Boston
Joseph Prezioso/Agence France-Presse
Oakland, Calif.
Noah Berger/Associated Press
Detroit
Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
St. Louis
Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images
Las Vegas
Bridget Bennett/Agence France-Presse
Omaha
Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald
San Jose, Calif.
Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Kansas City, Mo.
Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star
Helena, Mont.
Thom Bridge/Independent Record, via Associated Press
Portland, Ore.
Dave Killen/The Oregonian, via Associated Press
Charlotte, N.C.
Logan Cyrus/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Dallas
Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press
Manhattan, N.Y.
Kirsten Luce for The New York Times
Seattle
Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times, via Associated Press
Knoxville, Tenn.
Caitie Mcmekin/Knoxville News Sentinel, via Associated Press
Hampton, Va.
The' N. Pham/The Virginian-Pilot, via Associated Press
Memphis
Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian, via Associated Press
Houston
Mark Felix/Agence France-Presse, via Afp /Afp Via Getty Images
May 30
Los Angeles
Bryan Denton for The New York Times
Hartford, Conn.
Daniela Altimari/Hartford Courant, via Associated Press
Fredericksburg, Va.
Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star, via Associated Press
Colorado Springs
Chancey Bush/The Gazette, via Associated Press
Coral Gables, Fla.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Hammond, Ind.
Kale Wilk/The Times, via Associated Press
Lowell, Mass.
Joseph Prezioso/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Rockford, Ill.
Kristin Crowley/WREX
Tampa, Fla.
Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times, via Associated Press
Wichita, Kan.
Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle
Des Moines
Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register, via Associated Press
Indianapolis
Mykal Mceldowney/The Indianapolis Star, via Associated Press
Topeka, Kan.
John Hanna/Associated Press
Flint, Mich.
Jake May/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press
Petal, Miss.
Cam Bonelli/The Hattiesburg American, via Associated Press
Miami
Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
Lincoln, Neb.
Justin Wan/Lincoln Journal Star, via Associated Press
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times, via Associated Press
Great Falls, Mont.
Karl Puckett/The Great Falls Tribune, via Associated Press
Newark
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
Manhattan, N.Y.
Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times
Cincinnati
Sam Greene/The Cincinnati Enquirer, via Associated Press
Philadelphia
Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer, via Associated Press
Tulsa, Okla.
Cory Young/Tulsa World, via Associated Press
Camden, N.J.
April Saul/April Saul, via Associated Press
Charlottesville, Va.
Ryan M. Kelly/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Austin, Texas
Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman, via Associated Press
Pittsburgh
Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
Columbia, S.C.
Sam Wolfe/Reuters
Nashville
Larry Mccormack/The Tennessean, via Associated Press
May 31
El Paso
Mark Lambie/The El Paso Times, via Associated Press
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Hayward, Calif.
Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group, via Associated Press
Baton Rouge, La.
Travis Spradling/The Advocate
Mobile, Ala.
Christopher Harress/AL.com
Athens, Ga.
Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald, via Associated Press
Long Beach, Calif.
Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters
Lawrence, Kan.
Orlin Wagner/Associated Press
Savannah, Ga.
Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press
Lafayette, La.
Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser, via Associated Press
Santa Monica, Calif.
Bryan Denton for The New York Times
Shreveport, La.
Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times, via Associated Press
Portland, Maine
Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald, via Associated Press
Boston
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Flint, Mich.
Jake May/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press
La Mesa, Calif.
Elliot Spagat/Associated Press
Lansing, Mich.
Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal, via Associated Press
Raleigh, N.C.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters
Bryan, Texas
Laura McKenzie/The Bryan-College Station Eagle
Ferguson, Mo.
Whitney Curtis for The New York Times
Oklahoma City
Nick Oxford/Reuters
Midland, Texas
Eli Hartman/Odessa American, via Associated Press
Eugene, Ore.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, via Associated Press
Philadephia, Pa.
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Columbia, S.C.
Jason Lee/The Sun News, via Associated Press
Virginia Beach
Jonathon Gruenke/The Virginian-Pilot, via Associated Press
They protested in every single state and in Washington, D.C., with turnouts that ranged from dozens to the tens of thousands.
From a town square in Montrose, Ga., to Times Square in New York. From the northern tip of Minnesota to paddlers at Hanalei Pier in Hawaii, who commemorated victims of racial injustice by praying and releasing lei and flowers into the sea.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Abigail Dollins/The Argus Leader, via Associated Press
Palmdale, Calif.
Photo courtesy of Alex Garcia
Waco, Texas
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald, via Associated Press
Milwaukee
Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, via Associated Press
Oshkosh, Wis.
William Glasheen/The Post-Crescent, via Associated Press
Little Rock, Ark.
Desmond Mitchell
Spokane, Wash.
Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review, via Associated Press
June 1
Washington, D.C.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times
Yuma, Ariz.
Randy Hoeft/The Yuma Sun, via Associated Press
Montgomery, Ala.
Jake Crandall/The Montgomery Advertiser, via Associated Press
Anaheim, Calif.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/Associated Press
Glenwood Springs, Colo.
Chelsea Self/Glenwood Springs Post Independent, via Associated Press
Walnut Creek, Calif.
John G Mabanglo/EPA, via Shutterstock
Sioux City, Iowa
Tim Hynds/Sioux City Journal
Tacoma, Wash.
Ted S. Warren/Associated Press
Indianapolis
Michael Conroy/Associated Press
Hartford, Conn.
Mark Mirko/Hartford Courant, via Associated Press
Elgin, Ill.
Rick West/Daily Herald, via Associated Press
Bristol, Conn.
Mark Mirko/Hartford Courant, via Associated Press
Flint, Mich.
Jake May/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press
Champaign, Ill.
Quentin Shaw/The Daily Illini
Wilmington, N.C.
Matt Born/The Star-News, via Associated Press
Chattanooga, Tenn.
C.B. Schmelter/Chattanooga Times Free Press, via Associated Press
Tyler, Texas
Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph/Tyler Morning Telegraph, via Associated Press
Madison, Wis.
Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal, via Associated Press
Durham, N.C.
Robert Willett/The News & Observer, via Associated Press
Salt Lake City
Rick Bowmer/Associated Press
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Patrick Oehler/The Journal, via Associated Press
Yakima, Wash.
Amanda Ray/Yakima Herald-Republic, via Associated Press
Hampton, N.H.
Charles Krupa/Associated Press
O'Fallon, Mo.
David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, via Associated Press
June 2
New Orleans
Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
Brattleboro, Vt.
Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer, via Associated Press
Yuma, Ariz.
Randy Hoeft/The Yuma Sun, via Associated Press
Pasadena, Calif.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Orlando, Fla.
John Raoux/Associated Press
Des Moines
Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register, via Associated Press
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Kathy Plonka/The Spokesman-Review, via Associated Press
The demonstrators — black, brown, white, a mix of fed-up first-timers and veterans who had marched many times on those same streets — could not be stopped.
Not the risk of contracting Covid-19, not the tweets from a president who threatened military might, not a tornado in Florida or a tropical storm in North Carolina.
Aurora, Colo.
Philip B. Poston/The Aurora Sentinel, via Associated Press
Sunrise, Fla.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Boise, Idaho
Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman, via Associated Press
Redwood City, Calif.
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Brockton, Mass.
Alyssa Stone/The Enterprise, via Associated Press
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Jenna Kieser/Ann Arbor News, via Associated Press
Twin Falls, Idaho
Drew Nash/Times-News, via Associated Press
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Joel Bissell/Kalamazoo Gazette, via Associated Press
Idaho Falls, Idaho
John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register, via Associated Press
Norman, Okla.
Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Cleveland
Tony Dejak/Associated Press
Clifton, N.J.
Jean May/Associated Press
Carrollton, Texas
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Richmond, Va.
Steve Helber/Associated Press
Morgantown, W.Va.
Rylee Haught
Longview, Texas
Michael Cavazos/The Longview News-Journal
Alexandria, Va.
Mary Ann Barton/Alexandria Living Magazine
June 3
Portland, Maine
Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press
Springfield, Mass.
Leon Nguyen/The Republican, via Associated Press
Denton, Texas
Jeff Woo/The Denton Record-Chronicle, via Associated Press
Encinitas, Calif.
Mike Blake/Reuters
Miramar, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Newport Beach, Calif.
Apu Gomes/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press, via Associated Press
Brownsville, Texas
Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald, via Associated Press
Decatur, Ga.
Ron Harris/Associated Press
Stillwater, Okla.
Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Fairfield, Calif.
Ben Margot/Associated Press
New Rochelle, N.Y.
Joy Malone/Reuters
Vineland, N.J.
Edward Lea/The Press of Atlantic City, via Associated Press
San Francisco
Noah Berger/Associated Press
Norfolk, Va.
The' N. Pham/The Virginian-Pilot, via Associated Press
Plano, Texas
Stewart F. House/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press
The protests trampled traditional fault lines, crushed stereotypes and unfurled in rural, conservative and majority white communities. Protests crossed the economic divide, too, taking place where the median income was as low as $20,000 and as high as $220,000.
Odessa, Texas
Eli Hartman/Odessa American, via Associated Press
Richardson, Texas
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press
Harrisburg, Pa.
Mark Scolforo/Associated Press
San Antonio
Eric Gay/Associated Press
Vallejo, Calif.
Ben Margot/Associated Press
June 4
Manhattan, N.Y.
Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times
Pasadena, Calif.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Auburn, Maine
Andree Kehn/Sun Journal, via Associated Press
Longview, Texas
Michael Cavazos/The Longview News-Journal
San Diego
Gregory Bull/Associated Press
Rockford, Ill.
Kristin Crowley/WREX
Davenport, Iowa
Kevin E. Schmidt/Quad City Times, via Associated Press
In Palm Beach, Fla., an 80-year-old white grandmother of 10 stood alone near Town Hall, holding a handmade “Black Lives Matter” sign.
In Los Angeles — where the memory of Rodney King’s vicious beating by the police still lingers nearly three decades later — there were too many protesters to count.
Taunton, Mass.
Steven Senne/Associated Press
Lewiston, Maine
Andree Kehn/Sun Journal, via Associated Press
McKinney, Texas
Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
Batavia, Ill.
John Starks/Daily Herald Media Group
Brentwood, Mo.
Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
June 5
Louisville, Ky.
Erik Branch for The New York Times
Sacramento
Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press
Iowa City
Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette, via Associated Press
Miami
Cristobal Herrera/EPA, via Shutterstock
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Rick West/Daily Herald Media Group
New Orleans
Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
South Bend, Ind.
Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune, via Associated Press
Dubuque, Iowa
Nicki Kohl/Telegraph Herald, via Associated Press
Naperville, Ill.
Harry Hitzeman/Daily Herald Media Group
Buffalo
Lindsay Dedario/Reuters
Providence, R.I.
Philip Keith for The New York Times
Fargo, N.D.
Dave Kolpack/Associated Press
Wilmington, Del.
Brandon Bolinski
Peabody, Mass.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
In most cities, the demonstrations were peaceful.
Demonstrators in some cities were shoved and pummeled with batons. They were sprayed with chemicals, their stinging eyes soothed by milk. They were struck with rubber bullets that left bruises the size of baseballs.
In some cities, groups ransacked businesses, set buildings ablaze. Flames tore through a police precinct in Minneapolis. Flames enveloped police squad cars. Flames raced through the basement of a 200-year-old church.
Symbols of a nation’s racist past were toppled, crushed, defaced and beheaded.
June 6
Wenatchee, Wash.
Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
Simi Valley, Calif.
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
Evansville, Ind.
Sam Owens/Evansville Courier & Press, via Associated Press
Baltimore
Rosem Morton/Reuters
San Francisco
John G Mabanglo/EPA, via Shutterstock
Mishawaka, Ind.
Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune, via Associated Press
Hutchinson, Kan.
Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle
Fayetteville, N.C.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
West Orange, N.J.
Elsa/Getty Images
Amarillo, Texas
Vanessa Garcia with NewsChannel10
Doral, Fla.
Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
South Royalton, Vt.
Hilary Swift
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Eugene Garcia/EPA, via Shutterstock
St. Charles, Mo.
Whitney Curtis for The New York Times
Gulfport, Miss.
Lukas Flippo/The Sun Herald, via Associated Press
Broken Arrow, Okla.
Ian Maule/Tulsa World, via Associated Press
Wichita, Kan.
Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle
Terre Haute, Ind.
Austen Leake/Tribune-Star, via Associated Press
Bend, Ore.
Andrew Selsky/Associated Press
Bristol, R.I.
Erica Ponte/WPRI 12
Jackson, Miss.
Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press
Edinburg, Texas
Delcia Lopez/The Monitor, via Associated Press
Newport, R.I.
Stefanie Smith
Palmer, Alaska
Elizabeth Page
Auburn, N.Y.
Kevin Rivoli/The Citizen, via Associated Press
June 7
Seattle
Chloe Collyer for The New York Times
Bryan, Texas
Laura McKenzie/The Bryan-College Station Eagle
Livonia, Mich.
Erin Trieb for The New York Times
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Amr Alfiky/The New York Times
Pittsburgh
Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
Glendale, Calif.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Springfield, Ill.
Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register, via Associated Press
Louisville, Ky.
Luke Sharrett for The New York Times
Spokane, Wash.
Libby Kamrowski/The Spokesman-Review, via Associated Press
Omaha
Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald, via Associated Press
St. Louis
Whitney Curtis for The New York Times
Santee, Calif.
Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images
Duluth, Ga.
John Amis/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press
Los Angeles
Rich Fury/Getty Images
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Gary Cosby Jr./The Tuscaloosa News, via Associated Press
Austin, Texas
Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman, via Associated Press
Boston
Joseph Prezioso/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Honolulu
Matty Leong
Cody, Wyo.
Emily Reed
Across the nation, shifts in thinking have already begun — a closer examination of the daily hardships faced by black Americans.
How long will the marching continue? More importantly, will the rage and fist pumps, the prayers and the songs, give way to enduring change?
June 8
Houston
Adrees Latif/Reuters
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi for The New York Times
Oakland, Calif.
Ben Margot/Associated Press
Minneapolis
Aaron Nesheim for The New York Times
Shelby Township, Mich.
Erin Trieb for The New York Times
Orlando, Fla.
John Raoux/Associated Press
Washington, D.C.
Michael A. McCoy for The New York Times
St. Louis
Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, via Associated Press
Seattle
Jason Redmond/Reuters
June 9
Salt Lake City
Rick Bowmer/Associated Press
Bethel, Maine
Andree Kehn/Sun Journal, via Associated Press
Culver City, Calif.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Joshua Morrison/Mount Vernon News, via Associated Press
Mesa, Ariz.
Matt York/Associated Press
Revere, Mass.
CJ Gunther/EPA, via Shutterstock
Monroeville, Pa.
Lily Laregina/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, via Associated Press
Jacksonville, Fla.
Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union, via Associated Press
Minneapolis
Victor J. Blue for The New York Times