Tessa Quinn
During the protests over the killing of George Floyd in 2020, social media users falsely claimed that the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, was set on fire. A spokesperson for the hospital denied these claims, stating that no harm had come to the hospital. This was not the first time that social media users had spread misinformation about hospitals being set on fire during protests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Was Riley's Hospital set on fire? | No, this was a false claim |
| Date of claim | June 2020 |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Reason for claim | Protests over the killing of George Floyd |
| Source of claim | Facebook and Twitter |
| Riley Hospital for Children spokesperson's statement | "No harm has been done to the hospital." |
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What You'll Learn
- Riley Hospital for Children was not set on fire during the George Floyd protests
- Social media users falsely claimed the hospital was set on fire
- A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed no harm had been done to it
- Similar false claims were made about hospitals in Texas and Ohio
- The National Guard was deployed in 23 states during the protests
Riley Hospital for Children was not set on fire during the George Floyd protests
Rumors spread on Facebook and Twitter that the Riley Hospital for Children was set on fire during the George Floyd protests. However, these claims are false. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed to Reuters via email that these claims are untrue, stating, “No harm has been done to the hospital.” Indiana University Health officials also denied the claims, saying, “There has been no harm done to Riley, Methodist or University Hospitals.”
The false claims about the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, circulated on social media during the demonstrations that took place over the killing of George Floyd. Floyd was an unarmed Black man who died in 2020 after a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.
The Riley Hospital for Children is located about two miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis. It was not the only hospital that was falsely claimed to have been set on fire during the protests. Similar false claims were made about hospitals in Texas and Ohio. For example, photos circulated on Facebook that users claimed showed two Ohio hospitals set on fire, but these photos were later debunked.
The spread of misinformation on social media during times of civil unrest can have dangerous consequences. It is important for users to fact-check information before sharing it with others and to be cautious of false or misleading claims. In this case, the false claims about the Riley Hospital for Children could have potentially diverted attention and resources away from where they were needed during the protests.
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Social media users falsely claimed the hospital was set on fire
In June 2020, social media users falsely claimed that the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, was set on fire during protests over the killing of George Floyd. An official spokesperson for the hospital denied the claim, stating that "no harm has been done to the hospital".
A viral Facebook post alleged that the hospital was set on fire during the protests, saying, "Riley’s children’s hospital in Indy was set on fire. Do your protest, and looting people all have their own views. When you start f*g with sick kids. You just turned the world against you!". Similar claims about the hospital were also circulated on Twitter. However, these allegations were false, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Riley Hospital for Children in an email to Reuters and a phone call with the Daily Caller.
Indiana University Health officials also debunked the social media posts, stating, "There has been no harm done to Riley, Methodist, or University Hospitals." This incident reflects a broader pattern of false claims on social media during the demonstrations across the United States, with similar allegations made about hospitals being set on fire in Texas and Ohio.
The spread of misinformation during times of social unrest can have significant consequences and lead to further confusion and tension. It is essential to verify information from reliable sources before sharing or acting upon it.
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A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed no harm had been done to it
In June 2020, social media users began spreading a claim that the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, had been set on fire during protests over the killing of George Floyd. George Floyd was an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody after an officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.
A spokesperson for Riley Hospital for Children confirmed to Reuters via email that these claims were false. In a phone call with the Daily Caller, a spokesperson for the hospital stated, "No harm has been done to the hospital." This statement was also supported by local outlet WishTV.com, which reported that officials debunked similar claims about alleged damage to other hospitals in Indianapolis during the protests, including the Methodist and the IU Health University hospitals.
The false claim about Riley Hospital for Children being set on fire is not an isolated incident. During the same period, similar false allegations circulated on social media about hospitals being set on fire in Texas and Ohio. These claims were also fact-checked and debunked.
The spread of misinformation during times of social unrest can have significant consequences and lead to further confusion and tension. It is essential to verify information from reliable sources before sharing or acting on it.
In summary, it is clear that the Riley Hospital for Children was not set on fire during the protests, and a spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that no harm had been done to the hospital. It is crucial to rely on official sources and fact-checking organizations to counter misinformation and ensure the public receives accurate information.
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Similar false claims were made about hospitals in Texas and Ohio
In June 2020, social media users circulated false claims that the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, was set on fire during protests over the killing of George Floyd. Similar false allegations were made about hospitals in Texas and Ohio during the demonstrations across the United States.
A viral Facebook post alleged that the children's hospital in Indianapolis was set ablaze during the protests. The post read, "Riley's children's hospital in Indy was set on fire. Do your protest, and looting people all have their own views. When you start f*g with sick kids. You just turned the world against you!" However, these claims were swiftly debunked by officials and media organisations. A spokesperson for Riley Hospital for Children confirmed to Reuters that the hospital had not been damaged, stating, "No harm has been done to the hospital." Indiana University Health officials also denied the rumours, asserting that there was "no harm done to Riley, Methodist, or University Hospitals."
In addition to the false claims about Riley Hospital, similar allegations emerged regarding hospitals in Texas and Ohio. During the same period of demonstrations, social media users spread misinformation about hospitals being set on fire in these states. These claims were also proven to be false. While the specific details of the claims about Texas and Ohio hospitals are not readily available, it is clear that they were part of a broader pattern of misinformation surrounding the protests.
The spread of false information during times of social and political unrest can have significant consequences. It is important for individuals to verify information from multiple reliable sources before sharing or acting upon it. In the case of the Riley Hospital for Children and the hospitals in Texas and Ohio, the swift response from officials and fact-checking organisations helped to dispel the rumours and prevent further spread of misinformation.
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The National Guard was deployed in 23 states during the protests
In 2020, the National Guard was deployed in 23 states and Washington, D.C., in response to civil disturbances and protests over the death of George Floyd. Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died on May 25, 2020, after a police officer in Minneapolis restrained him by kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes. This incident sparked widespread protests across the United States, with demonstrators marching against racial injustice and police brutality.
The deployment of the National Guard during this tumultuous time was not without controversy. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom objected to President Donald Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles to respond to immigration protests. Trump bypassed the governor and sent approximately 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, costing over $24 million. This move was met with criticism, with Newsom calling it a "purposely inflammatory" action that would escalate tensions.
The deployment of the National Guard in 2020 was the largest since the civil rights movement, with more than 30,000 Guard members assisting local law enforcement. This number was in addition to the over 42,000 National Guard troops already deployed for the COVID-19 pandemic response. The National Guard's presence during the protests aimed to maintain order and ease civil unrest.
It is important to note that the deployment of the National Guard during protests has occurred in other significant instances throughout history. For example, in 1957, members of the 101st Airborne Division were positioned outside Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce integration. In 1966, National Guardsmen were present during a civil rights march on Cicero Ave in Chicago, a suburb known for its racial tensions.
While the National Guard's role during the 2020 protests aimed to maintain peace, it is worth addressing false claims that spread during this time. Social media users falsely alleged that the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis was set on fire during the protests. These claims were debunked by hospital officials and spokespeople, who confirmed that no harm had come to the hospital. Such misinformation can cause confusion and divert attention from the core issues of the protests.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Riley Hospital for Children was not set on fire during the George Floyd protests. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that these claims are false.
Rumours started on Facebook and Twitter, with a viral Facebook post claiming that the hospital was set on fire during the protests.
No hospitals were set on fire during the George Floyd protests. Similar false claims about hospitals being set on fire in Texas and Ohio were also circulated on social media.
No hospitals were targeted during the George Floyd protests. Indiana University Health officials confirmed that no harm was done to Riley Hospital, Methodist Hospital, or University Hospital.
