FBI Fires Agents Who Kneeled During George Floyd Protest

1 month ago

About 20 terminated labor had been reassigned from their normal duties this outpouring earlier being fired connected Sept. 26, per wrong sources

Published connected September 27, 2025 03:46PM EDT

FBI agents kneeling during a protestation complete nan decease of George Floyd successful June 2020. Credit :

Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

NEED TO KNOW

FBI agents who were photographed kneeling during a 2020 group justness protestation person been fired, per wrong sources
The terminated labor had been reassigned from their normal duties this outpouring earlier being fired connected Sept. 26
The FBI Agents Association, an defense group, said nan dismissals “violate nan owed process rights” of nan agents

The FBI has fired agents who were seen kneeling during a 2020 group justness protestation pursuing nan decease of George Floyd.

Inside sources said to nan Associated Press and said that astir 20 agents were terminated connected Friday, Sept. 26, respective of whom were photographed kneeling during a protestation successful Washington, D.C.

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) condemned nan firings successful a connection to PEOPLE, stating that nan “unlawful” dismissals “violate nan owed process rights” of nan agents — though they did not specifically corroborate whether nan caller firings were related to nan group justness protests of 2020.

“Agents person earned nan basal authorities of dignity and owed process done years of work and sacrifice, and they merit thing less,” added nan FBIAA, a nonprofit established to “advance and safeguard nan careers, economical interests, conditions of employment and welfare” of FBI agents.

FBI office successful Washington, D.C.

Kent Nishimura/Getty

The relation besides criticized FBI head Kash Patel’s activity astatine nan agency.

“Patel’s vulnerable caller shape of actions are weakening nan Bureau because they destruct valuable expertise and harm spot betwixt activity and nan workforce, and make it harder to enlistee and clasp skilled agents — yet putting our federation astatine greater risk,” nan FBIAA said.

FBI agents were astatine nan 2020 Washington, D.C., protestation astatine nan bid of then-Attorney General Bill Barr, who was urged to deploy crowd power measures by President Donald Trump, per CNN. The agents successful mobility allegedly opted to return a knee arsenic a measurement to thief deescalate tensions betwixt rule enforcement and demonstrators, according to nan outlet.

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Photos of nan agents kneeling soon circulated online, spurring anger among immoderate of nan agents’ colleagues and a number of blimpish politicians. The incident was later reviewed by officials nether then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, who wished that nan motion did not break immoderate FBI policy.

PEOPLE reached retired to nan FBI and nan FBIAA for remark connected Saturday, Sept. 27, but did not person contiguous responses.

In a connection to NPR, nan FBI declined to remark connected unit matters.