The FBI has fired a group of agents who were pictured kneeling at a racial justice protest over the death of George Floyd, US media reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The agents reportedly took the knee alongside others during a demonstration in Washington DC in 2020. Floyd, a black man, was killed by a police officer who knelt on his neck, sparking global outcry.
Between 15 to 20 agents are thought to have been sacked on Friday - though the exact number is unclear.
The FBI Agents Association condemned their termination in a statement, saying their rights had been violated. The FBI declined to comment on the reports when approached by the BBC.
The reported firings come as the Trump administration seeks to purge what it sees as left-wing and so-called woke policies and officials from every part of the federal government.
Several right-wing commentators had criticized agents and police officers who were pictured kneeling on social media at the time, but supporters argue that the kneeling was a tactic to reduce tensions with protesters, not an endorsement of their views.
The act became a symbol of dissent against racism, particularly after the viral footage of Floyd's murder came to light. An official post-mortem examination found Floyd died of a heart attack caused by neck compression, leading to Derek Chauvin's conviction and sentencing for his murder.
This mass termination is part of a pattern of firings within the FBI. Notable figures including the former acting director and former assistant directors have also been let go recently, with lawsuits alleging these actions were taken to please President Trump.
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