Unfortunately, the trend of fatal police shootings in the United States appears to be on the rise. As of April 2022, a total of 241 civilians have been shot by police, with 14 of those being Black individuals. In 2021, there were 1,055 fatal police shootings, and in 2020, the number was 1,021. Notably, the rate of fatal police shootings among Black Americans is significantly higher than that of any other racial group, standing at 38 fatal shootings per million individuals as of April 2022.

 

Police Brutality in the U.S.

In recent years, especially following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, police brutality has become a critical issue in the United States. The number of homicides committed by police in the U.S. is often contrasted with those in countries like England, where this number is considerably lower.

 

Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter Movement, established in 2013, has actively campaigned against police brutality through organizing "die-ins," marches, and demonstrations. These actions serve as responses to the killings of Black men and women by police officers.

 

Through its efforts, Black Lives Matter has significantly raised awareness about the prevalence and frequency of police shootings involving civilians.