FBI fires agents who knelt at George Floyd protest

The FBI has fired a group of agents who were photographed kneeling during a protest for racial justice, following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The officers took part in a demonstration in Washington, D.C., where they knelt with protesters in solidarity. Floyd, a black man, was killed by former police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes, sparking strong reactions around the world.

It is thought that around 15 or 20 agents were fired on Friday, although the exact numbers remain unclear,  the BBC reports . The FBI Agents Association condemned the decision, calling it a violation of their rights. The FBI itself has declined to comment on the case.

The decision comes in a new political climate, where President Donald Trump's administration is trying to remove what it calls "leftist" or "woke" policies from federal institutions. In 2020, many conservative commentators criticized agents and police officers who took a knee, while supporters of the gesture emphasized that it was a strategy to reduce tensions, not necessarily for political support.

The kneeling gesture became a symbol of protest against racism and police brutality in the US, becoming even more powerful after the release of footage of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck. He is currently serving a 22-and-a-half-year sentence for his murder.

The latest firings are part of a broader wave of departures at the FBI. Former directors Brian Driscoll, Steven Jensen and Spencer Evans have also left in recent months. Earlier this month, three former agents sued FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging they were fired to politically please Trump.

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