The Brief: The hashtag #BlueFall is an online movement to expose videos of police brutality.
DEEP DIVE
People are sharing evidence of police violence and racism with the hashtag #BlueFall as protests demanding justice for George Floyd erupt around the world. Across the United States, videos have been surfacing of peaceful protestors being met with rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, and batons from police. This social media campaign, which began on June 4th, highlights the ways in which police continue to enact violence against protestors who are raising their voices against the very issue of police brutality.
The name BlueFall is a reference to the “PrideFall” an online campaign perpetuated by anti-gay trolls who planned to harass, bully, and dox LGBTQ+ people online during Pride Month. Although the name BlueFall is similar to PrideFall, its mission differs in its focus on social and racial justice rather than cyberattacks on a marginalized group.
@fx.kiara.fx omg I hope you guys like my dance video😉 #fyp #dance #bluefall
#BlueFall has been spread by activists and individuals with the mission of bringing footage of and dialogue about racism and police brutality to the forefront. This hashtag can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. At the time of writing, videos associated with #BlueFall have been viewed over 1.9 million times on TikTok and over 2,200 Instagram posts have been made using the hashtag. Various #BlueFall posts include calls to action to defund, abolish, and/or reform the police, to hold officers accountable, and to continue protesting for racial justice. Some posts explicitly callout officers by name, department, and badge number to demand accountability for their actions. In addition to the hashtag, these posts often tag accounts of local officials, police departments, and elected representatives to bring them to their attention.
#BlueFall Exposes Police Brutality
Content warning: the following posts include depictions of violence.
cw: blood
LOS ANGELES: LAPD officers shoot a homeless wheelchair user in the face with less-lethal ammunition. He leans over in obvious pain, blood pouring from his face. The man was not part of any protest. #BLUEFALL pic.twitter.com/vhLiOudloi— Chad Loder (@chadloder) June 5, 2020
EXPOSE THEM UNTIL THEY CAN NO LONGER IGNORE US, BEAT US, AND KILL US ANYMORE!!! LET’S GET A MILLION TWEETS OF #BLUEFALL AND MORE! pic.twitter.com/oec9TLed9I
— gypsy.padawan (@GypsyPadawan) June 4, 2020
#BLUEFALL @LAPDHQ @LAPDChiefMoore can you explain this?!?! https://t.co/HRc8FMOHmN
— ✨haley✨ (@haleys_comet97) June 5, 2020
@annoymousnews Continue to fight #trump #policebrutality #riotsinminneapolis #bluefall #acab #1312 #anonymous #blqck0ut