Twelve former FBI agents have sued, claiming they were wrongly fired for kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington DC in June 2020. The agents say their kneeling helped calm a tense crowd after the killing of George Floyd. The protesters' gesture, taking a knee, was used to ease tensions amid unrest. The agents say they faced a dangerous situation and chose this tactic to avoid violence. Their dismissal letters accused them of showing "a lack of impartiality." The ex-agents, nine women and three men, believe FBI chief Kash Patel ordered their firing. Patel is named in the lawsuit. The agents say their actions were reviewed at the time by the FBI and the Justice Department. They were fired over five years after the incident. The agents claim they were targeted because their actions suggested no loyalty to then-President Donald Trump. Patel, linked to Trump, has denied politically motivated firings. The group seeks reinstatement and back pay. The lawsuit echoes one filed by former FBI acting director Brian Driscoll and others, who allege political retaliation in their firings. The White House described Patel as "a critical member of the president's team" working to restore FBI integrity. The FBI has not commented on the case.