If you have spent any time on the internet since 2016 — and who hasn’t? — you’ll be familiar with right wing bugbear George Soros, an extremely rich philanthropist who donates generously to liberal and progressive causes, and i
Publication: black lives matter
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Outside Agitators’ Have Always Been a Racist Myth
In January 2023, the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police in Memphis, Tennessee drew widespread outcry in the United States. Ditto for the death in Atlanta, Georgia that same month of protestor and environmental activist Tortuguita — Ma
Snopes→ Wis. School Board: Pride Flags, Pronouns Included in ‘Political Messaging’ Ban
The policy applies to teachers and other school employees.
Logically→ The Indian men’s cricket team has taken the knee in support of the slain tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Snopes→ FBI Eyeing 6 Suspects After Bomb Threats at Black Colleges
More than a third of America’s 101 historically Black colleges and universities have been targeted by calls or emails threatening to set off bombs on their campuses since early January.
Snopes→ Ex-Officer Cleared in Shooting During Breonna Taylor Raid
A former Kentucky police officer was found not guilty Thursday on charges he endangered neighbors the night he fired into Breonna Taylor's apartment during a botched drug raid that resulted in Taylor's death.
Truth or Fiction?→ Kenosha Homicide Trial Riddled With Disinformation, Weaponized Narratives
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who killed two people and wounded a third during a shooting spree in Kenosha, Wisconsin during protests against police brutality in August 2020, has made daily headlines nationally and internationally —
Snopes→ Queen’s London Representative Says Royals Back BLM Movement
Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family back the Black Lives Matter movement, one of her senior representatives said in a television interview.
Snopes→ NFL Returns Social Justice Helmet Decals, End Zone Stencils
NFL players can wear social justice messages on their helmets again this season and “It Takes All of Us” and “End Racism” will be stenciled in end zones for the second straight year.
Snopes→ Officers, Paramedics Charged in Elijah McClain’s 2019 Death
The 23-year-old’s death gained widespread attention during last year’s protests against racial injustice and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Snopes→ Black Female WWII Unit Hoping to Get Congressional Honor
Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon and her Army colleagues never dwelled on being the only Black battalion of women to serve in Europe during World War II.
Truth or Fiction?→ David Attenborough ‘Ants in a Jar’
In May and June 2021, a clumsy parable attributed to David Attenborough circulated, telling the story of 100 black ants and 100 fire ants trapped in a jar, who were happy and peaceful until unspecified outside forces began “shaking the jar”
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Jeffrey Westerfield’ Facebook Post
A virally popular May 2021 Facebook post purportedly told the story of Jeffrey Westerfield, identifying him as a police officer who was killed on his 47th birthday and co-opting the “Say Her Name” movement by adding “Say MY Name”
Truth or Fiction?→ Blendoor ‘Black Lives Matter’ Study
On May 21 2021, an item on right-wing disinformation purveyor Dan Bongino’s blog (“Study: Tech Companies That Made Black Lives Matter Pledges Have 20% Fewer Black Employees”) appeared on Trendolizer.com’s list of the day’
Snopes→ Did LeBron James Condemn Columbus Cop Who Killed Ma’Khia Bryant?
"I'm so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police," he tweeted.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Columbus Police Not Arrest Anyone After a College ‘Party’ That Left Cars Overturned?
As criticism swirled around the police department in Columbus, Ohio for its extrajudicial killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, more than a few commenters on social media pointed out that officers seemed much less aggressive when it came to a lo
Logically→ Nextdoor is aware of the racism on its platform.
Nextdoor's recent anti-racism statement suggests that the company is aware of the racism on its platform.
Snopes→ Ex-Minneapolis Cop Derek Chauvin Found Guilty In George Floyd’s Killing
The 12-person jury reached the verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days.
Snopes→ Was Adam Toledo a Member of Latin Kings Gang?
"[Adam] was a good kid without a criminal record," his family's attorney said.
Snopes→ Was George Floyd’s Girlfriend Daunte Wright’s Teacher?
"(I'm) crushed," said Courteney Ross, the former partner of Floyd, after a suburban Minneapolis cop fatally shot Wright.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a BBC Official Say an Idris Elba Character Wasn’t ‘Black Enough to be Real’?
A British broadcasting official’s critique of Idris Elba’s popular detective show Luther spread exponentially in April 2021 following a questionable quote in a British tabloid. According to the Daily Mail: The BBC’s diversity chief ha
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘In 2020, There Were 18 Days When Police Officers Didn’t Kill Anyone At All’
On April 14 2021, Imgur user ButtBot9900 shared a screenshot of a tweet by an account called @LAPDParody, which claimed there were only “18 days in 2020” where American police officers “didn’t kill anyone at all.” No date
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘George Floyd’s Girlfriend Was Daunte Wright’s Teacher, Fred Hampton’s Mom Babysat Emmett Till’
An April 13 2021 tweet made an unsettling claim — that the girlfriend of George Floyd was Daunte Wright’s teacher, and that Fred Hampton’s mother occasionally babysat Emmett Till: Finding out that George Floyd’s girlfriend was Dau
Snopes→ No, There’s No Evidence BLM Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors Used Donations To Buy House
Let's talk about home prices in Los Angeles.
Snopes→ No Evidence BLM Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors Used Donations To Buy House
Let's talk about home prices in Los Angeles.
Snopes→ Is Man Who Killed Cop in ’81 Helping NY Officials Reform Policing?
Headlines mischaracterized the connection between Richard Rivera, who served a prison sentence for a police officer's death, and a 2020 initiative by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Abe Lincoln Statue Vandalized with Poop, Paint; Arrested Suspect is a Black Lives Matter Leader’
On March 24 2021, the disinformation-friendly Daily Wire published an item with the headline, “Abe Lincoln Statue Vandalized With Poop, Paint; Arrested Suspect Is A Black Lives Matter Leader.” It began: A Black Lives Matter activist in Boi
Snopes→ With Drivers Confused, Atlantic City to Redo BLM Road Paint
The words “Black Lives Matter” will be painted onto the repaved road in a manner that does not obscure lane divider markings.
Snopes→ Critics Call Sen. Ron Johnson’s Insurrection Comments Racist
The Wisconsin senator is being called racist for an interview in which the white Republican said he wasn't worried about the predominantly white supporters of President Donald Trump during the deadly insurrection at the Capitol, but that he might have
Snopes→ Did Biden Pardon 2,617 BLM Protesters?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Snopes→ Did School Apologize for ‘All Lives Matter’ Theme for Black History Month?
A Tennessee principal was the center of a controversy after deciding a theme for her school’s Black History Month.
Snopes→ Was the Black Lives Matter Movement Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize?
Any member of a national assembly or a head of state can submit nominations before February 1.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Before Capitol Rioters Beat an Officer to Death, BLM Protesters Formed a Human Barricade Around a Cop Separated From Other Police’
After a Capitol police officer was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher during the January 6 2021 insurrection, a photograph from 2020 Black Lives Matter protests circulated, which contrasted the death of one officer at the hands of insurrection
Snopes→ Video: Deputy Runs Over Fleeing Black Man in Kansas Field
Lionel Womack was on his way back home from a business trip to California when a Kansas Highway Patrol officer in western Kansas initiated a chase over “an alleged traffic violation,” according to the lawsuit.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘BLM Destroys Hispanic Child’s Birthday Party’
On October 5 2020, the aptly named Facebook page “Infodemik” shared a video captioned “BLM destroy Hispanic child’s birthday party Houston, TX”: Variations and Iterations Infodemik also shared the clip with a similar
Truth or Fiction?→ Bar Owner Dies by Suicide After Indictment for Allegedly Shooting, Killing Protester?
On September 22 2020, hyperpartisan site BlueLivesMatter.blue/The Police Tribune published an article headlined, “Bar Owner Commits Suicide After Being Indicted For Shooting Rioter Who Attacked Him”: It began: The Nebraska store
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Josie Huang Identify Herself as Press While Being Arrested?
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s latest attempt to justify the violent arrest of a journalist was clearly exposed as false by video footage of the attack posted by the reporter and other news outlets. Huang, a reporter for KPC
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kenosha Car Dealer Kills Himself After His Insurance Won’t Cover a Cent of the 2.5 Million Dollars of Damages’ Caused by BLM Protests
On September 9 2020, a screenshot of a fabricated Fox Business article headlined “Kenosha car dealer kills himself after his insurance won’t cover a cent of the 2.5 million dollars of damages caused by the riots” was shared to meme a
Truth or Fiction?→ Did NFL Fans Boo During a ‘Moment of Unity’?
The opening game of the National Football League’s 2020 campaign drew attention online beyond the boxscore on September 10 2020, as footage spread of fans booing during what the league had hoped would be soothe tensions between players and fans.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Single Gender Reveal in California Cause More Property Damage Than All of 2020’s Black Lives Matter Protests Combined?
On September 7 2020, a Facebook user shared a post asserting that a single gender reveal party in 2020 caused more property damage than all of the Black Lives Matter protests throughout the year: White text against a red and orange background read: