At least 15 FBI agents have just been fired for one reason: they took a knee during the George Floyd protests.

In 2020, these agents were deployed to protect federal buildings during demonstrations for racial justice. Surrounded by peaceful protesters, some agents knelt — a gesture widely recognized as a nonviolent way to de-escalate conflict. Now, five years later, they’re being terminated.

This isn’t about policy violations. This is about retaliation.

The FBI Agents Association has condemned the firings as unlawful and a violation of the agents’ due process rights. These were public servants who risked their lives for years — many with decorated careers — and now, they’ve been dismissed without warning or transparency.

The firings were reportedly ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump appointee under increasing scrutiny for politically motivated terminations. This comes amid lawsuits from former FBI leadership who were also fired without cause — and amid increasing pressure on the Bureau to purge those who worked on Jan. 6-related investigations.

We, the undersigned, demand:

• Immediate reinstatement or independent review of all FBI agents fired in connection with the Floyd protests
• Full congressional oversight into politically motivated terminations at the FBI
• Legal protections for federal agents exercising good-faith discretion in high-stress field situations. 

Taking a knee to prevent violence is not misconduct — it’s leadership.

Firing veteran agents to score political points doesn’t make America safer — it makes our institutions weaker.

If the Trump administration wants loyalty over law, the public must push back.