The murder of George Floyd, a Black American man, by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020, sparked large-scale protests against systemic racism, both in the United States and elsewhere. As a result of the protests, numerous controversial forms of symbolism were either changed or removed.
In the United States, changes focused on removing and prohibiting displays of the Confederate battle flag; the flag of Mississippi was changed to remove a Confederate battle insignia. Around the world, numerous name changes occurred in response to the protests, while in Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand several police reforms were enacted, primarily in relation to the policing of ethnic minority communities.As New Zealand Police Pledge To Stay Unarmed, Maori Activists Credit U.S. Protests
Several sports teams that used mascots featuring Native Americans, both inside and outside the United States, announced plans to change them; the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations voted to shorten its name to the 'State of Rhode Island'.
In the film and television industry, numerous casting changes occurred in relation to white voice actors for non-white characters, while several films and television shows were edited, rewritten, canceled, or pulled from streaming services as a result of the protests.
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Employment practices Employer Reported Details United States Army To "improve diversity, equity, and inclusion", the Army announced that it would remove "photos from officer promotion boards beginning August 2020".
Flags
Design changes Old New Represents Reported Executed Details The Flag of Mississippi The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill to relinquish the state flag, remove it from public premises within 15 days of the bill's effective date, and redesign it via commission, with the new design omitting the Confederate battle flag and including the phrase "In God We Trust". Republican Governor Tate Reeves had stated that he was against the Legislature changing the flag, but that if the Legislature were to pass such a bill he would sign it. Reeves signed the bill on .
Mississippi was the last U.S. state to incorporate the Confederate battle flag in its state flag; a poll had concluded that most Mississippians supported the removal of this element from the state flag. Voters approved a new design in a referendum on November 3, 2020. It became the official state flag on January 11, 2021.
Prohibition of Confederate flag emblems Organization Announced Details United States Marine Corps The U.S. Marines officially banned the Confederate battle flag from both public and work spaces on its military bases, including its display on vehicle bumper stickers, clothing, and coffee mugs. United States Navy Admiral Michael M. Gilday directed his staff to begin crafting an order banning the Confederate battle flag from "all public spaces and work areas aboard Navy installations, ships, aircraft and submarines."Wise, Justin. Navy to ban Confederate flag, symbols from its bases and ships . The HillJune 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020. NASCAR Display of the Confederate battle flag was prohibited at all NASCAR events and properties. Cork GAA Fans of the Gaelic Athletic Associated Cork team use the Confederate battle flag due to County Cork's nickname, "the Rebel county". The team announced the prohibition of the flag. United States Forces Korea U.S. Forces Korea banned display of the Confederate battle flag and depictions of it on USFK installations, except for artistic and educational displays. U.S. military installations U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper effectively banned display of Confederate flags on military installations with a memo listing flags authorized for display that leaves out Confederate flags. United States Coast Guard Confederate flag specifically prohibited by Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz.
Removal of physical flags Flag Location City State Announced Removed Details Confederate battle flag Confederate Memorial Park Seffner Florida A Confederate flag at the intersection of I-4 and I-75, just east of Tampa, was temporarily removed by its owner, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, after threats to burn it were made on social media. Confederate battle flag Memorial Park Kennesaw Georgia The city decided that it will no longer fly the Confederate battle flag in downtown Kennesaw's Memorial Park on Main Street. Flag was cut down prior to protests and city council members agreed not to replace it, despite violating state law to do so. On June 16, it was replaced with an older version of the Georgia state flag. Mississippi state flag City-owned buildings Gulfport Mississippi The city of Gulfport removed all Mississippi state flags from city-owned buildings. Mississippi state flag City-wide Bay St. Louis Mississippi The city council decided to stop flying the state flag. Flag of the Black Country West Midlands Fire Service fire stations West Midlands England The Black Country's flag was designed by Gracie Shepherd, an 11-year-old schoolgirl, in 2012. It includes a chain motif representing "the chain industry in the region, as well as the linking up of the different communities". The flag has been controversial as chains made in the region were used on slaves in the Caribbean and North America. The fire service sent a letter to all staff on July 16 banning the use of the flag; it reversed its decision on July 24. Confederate battle flag Grand Ledge Public Schools Grand Ledge Michigan The School Board prohibited "racially divisive messaging, images, or symbols", specifically mentioning the Confederate flag. Flag of Norway Flag of the United States The Nordic Pineapple(bed and breakfast) St. Johns Michigan Since opening the business in 2018, the owners had flown a Norwegian flag alongside an American flag at the entrance because the grandfather of one of the owners was born in Norway. The Norwegian flag has the same colors as the Confederate battle flag and was occasionally mistaken for it, despite its different design, which lacks stars. In the past, they had explained the nature of the flag to anyone who expressed concerns. But after receiving "at least a dozen hateful emails" in the summer of 2020, they decided to stop displaying any flags. They soon restored the American flag and later replaced the Norwegian flag with a triangular Norwegian vimpel pennant in the flag's colors. Confederate battle flag Oregon Commission on Historic CemeteriesOregon The Oregon Historic Preservation Office Commission on historic cemeteries officially adopted a position paper recommending that Confederate Flags not be displayed at historic cemeteries.
Heraldry Old New Emblem Reported Details Coat of arms of Imperial College London Imperial College London decided to remove its motto from the official rendition of its coat of arms to "better reflect the College's culture, values and commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive community." The motto read Scientia imperii decus et tutamen, which translates to "Scientific knowledge, the crowning glory and the safeguard of the empire". Seal of Rhode Island An executive order by Gov. Gina Raimondo removed "and Providence Plantations" from official state documents and symbols. Leading legislators of the General Assembly then removed the phrase from internal legislative documents. Rhode Island voters approved the name change in a referendum on November 3, 2020. The same question had previously failed 78% to 22% in 2010. Though Providence Plantations did not utilize slaves, petitioners argued the word has connotations of Southern slave plantations, and that Rhode Island merchants historically played a large role in the transatlantic slave trade. Ventura County, California, seal Seal was redesigned to remove Junípero Serra. Insignia of theOrder of St Michael and St George(Personal use by the Governor-General of Jamaica) Patrick Allen, the Governor-General of Jamaica, declared that he was suspending his usage of the insignia due to ongoing protests against images that "normalize the continued degradation of people of color." The insignia depicts a white Archangel Michael standing over a dark-skinned Satan.Netto, Joseph & Asmelash, Leah (28 June 2020). Jamaica's governor-general suspends personal use of royal insignia over 'offending image' . CNN. Retrieved 14 July 2020. Placerville, California, seal The city has had the nickname "Hangtown" since the 1850s. The city first considered removing a noose from its city seal because of its associations with lynching. The city council voted unanimously to remove the image on April 14, 2021.
Notable proposed changes: The coat of arms of Massachusetts, displayed in the Seal of Massachusetts and Flag of Massachusetts contains a colonist's sword held over the image of a Native American, both of which were criticized by activists. A state commission created by law to examine the issue voted in 2022 to replace the flag.
Museums and other displays
Name Location Reported Details Penn Museum Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States The museum removed the Morton Cranial Collection from public view; the collection includes the skulls of enslaved individuals. Samuel George Morton, a popular physician, was a founder of scientific racism, and used his collection to "prove" the alleged inferiority of what he called "the African race". John Wayne exhibit, University of Southern California Los Angeles California United States John Wayne attended the University of Southern California; white supremacist remarks of his have recently surfaced. The display was moved to the Cinematic Arts Library. Tate Britain London England United Kingdom Tate Britain's Rex Whistler Restaurant featured a large mural by Rex Whistler entitled The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats (1927). One of its scenes depicts the enslavement of a black child and his mother's distress; another shows him running behind a horse and cart to which he is attached by a chain around his neck. The room was closed and will only reopen (as an exhibition space) when "interpretive material" to put the work's offensive nature into its wider historical context is incorporated.
Police reforms
School mascots and logos