The Brief: A rise in the number of fireworks reportedly being set off across the United States has sparked a surge of conspiracy theories and memes about the source of these pyrotechnics.
DEEP DIVE
In late June 2020, fireworks conspiracy theory memes started trending as a reflection of dramatic increases in the number of fireworks going off across the United States. While conspiracy theories that police are planting fireworks in Black and Brown neighborhoods are not backed by hard evidence, they’ve resonated with thousands of people online.
Whatever the cause of this increase in pyrotechnics may be, fireworks memes are one way people are venting about being disrupted by explosions throughout the night.
A wrong turn meme:
re: the fireworks pic.twitter.com/AdVMKAXDc3
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) June 22, 2020
A Pepe Silvia meme:
Me, telling my friends and family all my fireworks conspiracy theories #nycfireworks pic.twitter.com/Bkl889ufJG
— sandie (@sandiepants) June 22, 2020
Political compass for all the fireworks conspiracy theories: pic.twitter.com/DdWDghG3Cd
— Jules (@Julian_Epp) June 22, 2020
I have fired
off the fireworks
that were given to me
by the governmentand which
has probably
kept
you awakeForgive me
they were part of a psyops
so loud
and so conspiracy— Vivian Lee (@vivianwmlee) June 22, 2020
Trying to explain to my mom (between work calls) that NYPD disbanding their street crime unit, just to form a firework task force is no coiNCIDENCE pic.twitter.com/4legnitNOr
— – (@h0odpope) June 23, 2020
nypd catching fireworks sellers pic.twitter.com/Xvx0xnfhhn
— dylan (@spiritnght) June 23, 2020
My conspiracy theory is that it’s a cat setting off all the fireworks.
— Adam Newman (@Adam_Newman) June 22, 2020
I been hearings nothing but #fireworks for the past week… y'all ain't run out yet pic.twitter.com/gAjFhQlqnZ
— kaylasangurima (@faeriehorror) June 20, 2020
For those who cite patriotism as their reason for setting off explosives:
EVERY FUCKING NIGHT IN NYC #fireworks pic.twitter.com/37oUaxbvts
— ron CAPSlock (@RONdazed) June 20, 2020
Is there a fucking conspiracy to set off fireworks 🧨 EVERYWHERE, EVERY FUCKING NIGHT??? #fireworks pic.twitter.com/1M1pTBctMZ
— Jetset Lily SUPERNOVA Back up Account ❤️😀😬 (@lily_jetset) June 20, 2020
people from other cities: the nightly fireworks are obviously a psy-op conspiracy
people from chicago who have been hearing fireworks all night all summer for years now: pic.twitter.com/BIZ4WSNiSO
— lorena cupcake ✨ they/them (@lorenacupcake) June 21, 2020
A very dangerous drinking game:
decided to take a shot every time I heard fireworks lastnight
— Zack Fox (@zackfox) June 22, 2020