The Summer 2020 Fireworks Conspiracy refers to a period during the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice protests when residents in major American cities reported an unprecedented surge in illegal fireworks displays. Social media was flooded with theories suggesting the noise was a form of psychological warfare by the government or police meant to disrupt sleep and weaken the morale of protesters. While many officials attributed the spike to boredom and cheap supply, the meme persists as a symbol of the paranoia and civil unrest that defined the year 2020. It is typically used to mock outlandish theories or to highlight the absurdity of living through that specific historical moment.