February 26, 2012 Trayvon Martin is killed The killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, became the catalyst for the movement that would later take the name Black Lives Matter. July 13, 2013 George Zimmerman is acquitted Zimmerman's acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin triggered grief and anger that helped spark a new wave of Black-led activism. July 13, 2013 #BlackLivesMatter is coined Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi launched the #BlackLivesMatter call, giving the movement its enduring name and organizing frame. July 17, 2014 Eric Garner dies after police arrest Garner's death in Staten Island, captured on video, intensified national scrutiny of police violence and accountability. August 9, 2014 Michael Brown is killed in Ferguson Brown's killing by police in Ferguson led to sustained protests and turned Black Lives Matter into a national protest movement. August 2014 Freedom Ride to Ferguson mobilizes activists Activists traveled to Ferguson from across the United States, helping transform local protest into a coordinated national movement. November 24, 2014 Grand jury declines to indict Darren Wilson The decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson in Brown's death triggered renewed protests in Ferguson and beyond. December 3, 2014 Grand jury declines charges in Eric Garner case The Staten Island grand jury's decision in the Garner case intensified protests over policing and racial injustice. December 13, 2014 Millions March protests fill U.S. cities Mass demonstrations in New York and other cities showed the movement's ability to mobilize large national protests. April 2015 Freddie Gray protests erupt in Baltimore Gray's death after a police arrest led to protests and unrest in Baltimore, further widening national debate over police violence. July 13, 2015 Sandra Bland is found dead in jail Bland's death after a traffic-stop arrest became another major focal point for Black Lives Matter activism. July 5, 2016 Alton Sterling is killed by police Sterling's killing in Baton Rouge reignited national protests and renewed focus on police use of force. July 6, 2016 Philando Castile is killed during traffic stop Castile's death, streamed live on social media aftermath, became one of the most widely discussed police killings of th… August 26, 2016 Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem Kaepernick's protest brought Black Lives Matter themes into professional sports and widened the cultural reach of the m… February 23, 2020 Ahmaud Arbery is killed Arbery's killing in Georgia became part of the wider 2020 mobilization against racial violence. March 13, 2020 Breonna Taylor is killed in a police raid Taylor's death in Louisville became one of the defining cases of the 2020 protest wave. May 25, 2020 George Floyd is killed in Minneapolis Video of Floyd's killing by police set off the largest protests associated with Black Lives Matter in the United States… June 2020 Black Lives Matter protests spread worldwide Demonstrations inspired by George Floyd's killing took place across the United States and in many countries, making the… August 23, 2020 Jacob Blake is shot by police in Kenosha The shooting of Blake sparked protests in Wisconsin and renewed national debate over police violence during the 2020 el… April 20, 2021 Derek Chauvin is convicted of murdering George Floyd Chauvin's conviction marked one of the most important legal outcomes associated with the movement's demands for police…