Although Black (versus white) Americans have always been disproportionately assaulted by members of the police, the summer of 2020 saw increased attention to this issue. In part, this shift was a result of viral videos shared on social media depicting Black Americans being brutalized by the police officers sworn to protect them. Though these videos may be necessary catalysts for change, they may also have negative impacts on the people they are attempting to protect. Using an online sample, this study retrospectively examined emotional responses to these videos (n = 1,262), and motivations affecting video sharing amongst white social media users (n = 291). Results showed that Black (in comparison to white) participants reported significantly higher negative affect and higher empathy after viewing videos of police brutality, relationships that were mediated by linked fate. Additionally, white participants who were externally motivated to respond with antiracism had decreased reckless sharing behaviors.