U.S. Sees Rollback of Racial Justice Reforms Five Years After Floyd Killing

Five years after George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer ignited a global movement for racial justice, the momentum for systemic reform in the U.S. has significantly stalled and even reversed under President Donald Trump's administration. Initial widespread commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion have been rolled back, with civil rights investigations axed and many DEI initiatives dismantled or defunded. Public skepticism toward racial equality efforts has grown, with surveys indicating that a majority of Americans see little progress, and Black Americans in particular doubting the achievement of racial justice. Activists and Floyd's family continue to advocate for reform, focusing on local and state-level initiatives despite the challenging political climate characterized by a strong backlash rooted in White grievance and authoritarian politics. The U.S. Department of Justice's recent moves to terminate federal consent decrees aimed at police reform, including in Minneapolis, underscore the rollback of gains made since 2020. Experts warn that this period reflects an organized regression similar to the backlash seen after the civil rights victories of the 1960s, marked by political opportunism and cultural paranoia undermining Black activism and civil rights progress.