One year after the killing of George Floyd, the National Museum of African American History and Culture reflects on the incidents of last summer in what was the largest collective protest ever on U.S. soil. Today, we memorialize George Floyd and so many others whose lives ended tragically and abruptly.

We echo the words of NMAAHC Director Kevin Young, their sacrifice is a debt carried by all Americans, and it must be repaid with introspection and action. When we shine a light on the issues that divide us, we can begin making the vital changes needed to create an America that delivers on its promise of equality.

NMAAHC photographers took the following photos during the George Floyd protest and several days of Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, D.C., from June 6 to June 19. We hope our collection and preservation efforts help future generations remember the protests of 2020 in light of the many marches for civil rights in the nation’s capital that preceded it.

As we look toward a future with hope for equality and justice, we reflect on the global movement inspired by Floyd’s murder.