2020 Protests & Revolutions Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2020 Protests & Revolutions Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 01 Jan Baghdad Embassy Tensions: Supporters of Iraqi paramilitaries withdraw from the United States embassy in Baghdad after being ordered by the Popular Mobilization Forces, signaling a de-escalation of diplomatic tensions following a period of heightened conflict and protest.
- 10 Jan Assassination of Iranian Commander Qassem Soleimani: U.S. President Donald Trump authorized a targeted drone strike at Baghdad International Airport, killing Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qassem Soleimani. This high-profile military action dramatically escalated tensions between the United States and Iran, raising concerns about potential military conflict in the Middle East.
- 11 Jan Iran Admits Downing Ukrainian Passenger Plane: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officially acknowledged that it had mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran, resulting in the tragic death of all 176 passengers and crew on board. This admission came amid heightened tensions in the region and sparked international condemnation.
- 17 Jan Deadly Protest Crackdown in Baghdad: Iraqi security forces opened fire on protesters at Sinak bridge in central Baghdad, resulting in at least two fatalities and dozens of injuries. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and violent suppression of public demonstrations in Iraq.
- 24 Jan Iraqi Protests and American Intervention: Ongoing armed conflicts and protests in Iraq during the period of 2019-2021, involving continued American military intervention following the complex geopolitical tensions in the region.
- 23 Feb Violent Protests in Delhi Over Citizenship Laws: Violent protests erupted in Delhi, India, against new citizenship laws, resulting in at least 38 fatalities over the subsequent days. The unrest highlighted deep social and political tensions surrounding the controversial legislation.
- 26 Feb North East Delhi Communal Riots: Violent communal clashes erupted between Hindu and Muslim protesters in North East Delhi, India, over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. The riots resulted in significant loss of life, with 27 people killed and at least 180 injured, highlighting the deep-seated tensions surrounding religious and citizenship issues in the region.
- 29 Feb Violence Against Juan Guaidó Supporters in Venezuela: Pro-government colectivos attacked Juan Guaidó and his supporters during a demonstration in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, resulting in five injuries. This incident highlighted the ongoing political tensions and violence in the country. source: Wikipedia (day-month pages)
- 01 May Michigan Armed Protests Against COVID-19 Restrictions: Armed protesters gathered at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing to protest stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the escalating tensions, Governor Gretchen Whitmer reinstated the State of Emergency to maintain public safety and control the potential spread of the coronavirus.
- 24 May Mass Protests in Hong Kong Against National Security Law: Thousands of Hong Kong protesters demonstrated against a proposed national security law by China's National People's Congress, expressing deep concerns about potential erosion of the region's autonomy and civil liberties.
- 25 May Murder of George Floyd and Global Black Lives Matter Protests: George Floyd, an African American man, was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin during an arrest, with the officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for over 9 minutes. This brutal incident sparked massive global protests against police brutality and systemic racism, leading to widespread social justice movements and calls for police reform.
- 28 May State of Emergency in Minneapolis-St. Paul During George Floyd Protests: A state of emergency was declared in Minneapolis-St. Paul as widespread protests erupted nationwide in response to the death of George Floyd, highlighting systemic racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.
- 30 May George Floyd Protests and National Guard Response: Nationwide protests against police brutality intensified across the United States. In response to escalating tensions, multiple states deployed National Guard troops. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and sent 500 National Guard members to Atlanta. In Minneapolis, 500 Guard soldiers were initially deployed, with Governor Tim Walz activating an additional 1,000 troops and considering federal assistance.
- 31 May Brazilian Anti-Fascist Protests Against Police Brutality: Large-scale anti-fascist protests erupted in major Brazilian cities including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. Demonstrators condemned police brutality and challenged President Bolsonaro's support for unconstitutional measures, reflecting growing social and political tensions.
- 01 Jun Nationwide Protests Over George Floyd's Death: Protests continued for a sixth consecutive night following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. The demonstrations were mostly peaceful during the day, with some instances of looting in various cities. Over a dozen states and Washington, D.C. activated the National Guard, and curfews were enacted in more than 25 cities. In Washington, D.C., riot police confronted thousands of protesters after a fire was set near the White House.
- 03 Jun George Floyd Protests Escalate: Nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism continued in California and Texas, marked by intense confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement. A significant incident involved the critical injury of Justin Howell, a 20-year-old African-American student protestor, who was struck by a bean bag round fired by Austin police.
- 04 Jun Hong Kong Tiananmen Square Commemoration Protests: Thousands of protesters in Hong Kong defied a recent government ban to mark the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, demonstrating continued resistance against mainland China's increasing political control and suppression of civil liberties.
- 07 Jun US National Guard Withdraws from Washington D.C. as Protests Calm: The US National Guard was withdrawn from Washington D.C. and the curfew was lifted in New York City as anti-racism protests, sparked by the death of George Floyd, remained predominantly peaceful. This marked a significant moment in the nationwide racial justice demonstrations that had been ongoing.
- 12 Jun Rayshard Brooks Shooting in Atlanta: On June 12, 2020, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by Atlanta Police Department officer Garrett Rolfe during a confrontation in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot. Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-through lane, and police were called to investigate. During the encounter, Brooks resisted arrest, wrestled with officers, seized a police Taser, and attempted to flee. Officer Rolfe shot Brooks twice in the back, leading to his death. The incident intensified ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the wake of George Floyd's death, ultimately resulting in the police chief's resignation and the officer being charged with murder.
- 14 Jun Atlanta Police Chief Resigns After Rayshard Brooks Shooting: The Atlanta police chief resigned, and an officer was fired following the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in a drive-through parking lot, which sparked further protests against police violence and racial injustice.
- 06 Jul Atlanta Mayor Calls for Protest Dispersal After Child's Murder: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms urged protesters to leave the area after an 8-year-old girl was fatally shot near a Wendy's restaurant, which had been a site of ongoing protests against racial injustice.
- 07 Jul Belgrade Protests Against COVID-19 Lockdown Measures: On July 7, 2020, violent protests erupted in Belgrade, Serbia, in response to the government's announcement of a weekend lockdown aimed at curbing the surge in COVID-19 cases. The demonstrations highlighted public resistance to pandemic control measures and growing social tensions.
- 10 Jul Anti-Government Protests in Mali Turn Violent: Malian police escalated tensions during anti-government protests in Bamako by deploying tear gas and opening fire on demonstrators who had occupied the national parliament building and the state broadcaster's offices. The violent confrontation resulted in at least one fatality, highlighting the political instability in the West African nation.
- 18 Jul Federal Agents Spark Controversy in Portland Protests: A growing controversy emerged surrounding federal law enforcement's actions in Portland, Oregon. U.S. Attorney Billy Williams requested a Department of Homeland Security investigation into masked, camouflaged federal agents capturing protesters in unmarked vehicles. Oregon's governor and Portland's mayor called for federal agencies to cease policing protests, but federal agents continued operations, reportedly using tear gas to disperse crowds. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf defended the agents, claiming they were protecting the city from 'violent extremists'.
- 12 Aug Protests Erupt in Mali Demanding President's Resignation: Thousands of protesters in Bamako demanded President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's resignation, citing financial crisis, widespread corruption, and escalating violence from separatist groups.
- 15 Aug Major Political Protests in Thailand: Approximately 10,000 demonstrators gather in Bangkok, staging the largest protests in six years, demanding significant governmental and monarchical reforms. The protests signal growing public discontent with Thailand's political establishment.
- 17 Aug Thai Protesters Challenge Government: Demonstrators in Thailand organized the largest public protest since the 2014 military coup, expressing widespread discontent with the government's management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The massive gathering signaled growing public frustration with political leadership and pandemic response strategies.
- 23 Aug Jacob Blake Shot by Police in Kenosha, Wisconsin: African American man Jacob Blake was critically injured by police in front of his children in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparking nationwide protests and discussions about police violence and racial injustice.
- 26 Aug Louisville Protests Over Breonna Taylor: 64 people were arrested during a demonstration in Louisville, Kentucky, protesting the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor during a police raid. The incident was part of the broader national conversation about police violence and racial injustice.
- 27 Aug Sports World Protests Jacob Blake Shooting: The Milwaukee Bucks initiated a playoff game boycott in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, sparking a widespread protest movement across professional sports leagues.
- 30 Aug Belarus Revokes Foreign Journalists' Accreditation: In an escalating crackdown on media freedom, the Belarusian Association of Journalists revoked accreditation for several foreign journalists covering anti-government protests. The German foreign ministry responded by announcing the summoning of the Belarusian ambassador in Berlin, signaling international diplomatic tension over press suppression.
- 01 Sep Trump's Controversial Kenosha Visit After Jacob Blake Shooting: President Donald Trump visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the aftermath of the Jacob Blake shooting incident, a controversial event that sparked significant racial justice protests. During his visit, Trump primarily offered support to local law enforcement, a stance that drew both criticism and support amid heightened tensions surrounding police use of force and racial inequality.
- 11 Sep Deadly Protests Erupt in Colombia Over Police Brutality: Violent protests erupted in Bogota, Colombia, following the death of Javier Ordonez, who died after being shocked with a stun gun by police for allegedly violating social distancing rules. At least nine people died and 175 were injured during the demonstrations, which reflected growing frustration with pandemic-related restrictions and police conduct.
- 13 Sep Violent Protests in Benghazi, Libya: In an escalation of civil unrest, protesters in Benghazi, Libya, stormed and set fire to the House of Representatives building. Some demonstrators were armed, reflecting the intense frustration with ongoing political instability, economic challenges, and systemic corruption. These protests marked the third consecutive day of demonstrations in eastern Libya, signaling deep-seated social and political tensions.
- 24 Sep Hong Kong Arrests Pro-Democracy Activists: Hong Kong authorities continued their crackdown on pro-democracy movements by arresting prominent activists Koo Sze-yiu and Joshua Wong. The arrests were made under the anti-mask policy implemented during the previous year's protests, further demonstrating the increasing restrictions on political dissent in the region.
- 26 Sep Potential Violent Protests in Portland, Oregon: Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in anticipation of potentially violent dueling protests in Portland. The emergency was prompted by white supremacist groups traveling from out of state, allegedly organized by the Proud Boys, raising concerns about potential civil unrest and political tensions.
- 12 Oct Denver Police Investigate Protest-Related Killing: Denver police identified a security guard as a suspect in a killing connected to a protest, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding public demonstrations.
- 16 Nov Political Turmoil in Peru: Interim President Resigns Amid Protests: Peru experienced a significant political upheaval when interim President Manuel Merino resigned after just six days in office, following widespread protests against his unexpected ascension. Merino had taken power after legislators removed popular President Martin Vizcarra, creating a constitutional crisis compounded by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The resignation reflected deep public dissatisfaction with political maneuvering.
- 28 Nov Farmers' Protest in Delhi: Thousands of farmers began converging on Delhi to protest proposed agricultural reforms, demonstrating significant agricultural sector dissatisfaction with government policy.
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