Black Lives Matter, sometimes shortened to “BLM,” is an anti-racist movement that highlights racism and the disparities that evolve from racism, including police brutality and other anti-Black violence. Black Lives Matter gained popularity online after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer was recorded and shared by a bystander. In response to the video, which shows officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, protests erupted around the world. These protests were often met with police violence, some of which has been declared illegal while protestors have been falsely arrested.
The momentum continued to draw attention to police violence, both as more Black lives were taken and as previous stories came to light. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Breonna Taylor are also victims who the movement has recognized. Thanks to the attention given to these cases, some of the perpetrators have finally faced justice, including Derek Chauvin, who has been convicted with murder.
BLM also encouraged police reform and greater investigations into policing, with some activists calling for reparations or to defund the police and reroute funds to other social programs that may be more effective. The movement has further brought attention to international conflict and raised funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some ways, the movement reflects the previous Civil Rights Movement, which lasted through the 1960s to 1980s including the Black Panther Party, which provided community assistance. Because of this, the movement has been recognized for its historical significance.
However, the movement has come under fire for protests that turned violent, for focusing too much on Black men, and for mismanaging funds raised.
A nonprofit organization, The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, also exists. Some people may refer to it as simply “Black Lives Matter.”
See all of our Black Lives Matter content below, starting with the most recent.
Posts Tagged ‘Black Lives Matter (BLM)’
Bernadette Carey Smith, Black Reporter in Mostly White Newsrooms, Dies at 83
Bernadette Carey Smith, one of the first Black female journalists for the New York Times and the Washington Post, dies at 83.
Read MoreHere’s Why We Shouldn’t Fund the Police
Brianna Patt argues why the recent increase in Dallas police funding is not the solution, especially for the Black community.
Read MoreMississippi Senate OKs bill affecting majority-Black city
Mississippi’s Republican-led Senate voted Tuesday to pass a bill appointing white judges inside the majority-Black capital city of Jackson.
Read MoreAt the NAACP, Racial Justice Means Climate Justice
The NAACP is working toward achieving climate justice for Black communities. A current focus is on water quality in Jackson, MS.
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About Adultification Bias
Black children and their parents must deal with adultification and its consequences, including violence an sexualization, on a daily basis.
Read MoreNYC to pay millions to George Floyd protesters boxed in by police
New York City is set to pay millions to protesters who were mistreated during racial protests in June 2020.
Read MoreFears of renewed FBI abuse of power after informant infiltrated BLM protests
The FBI used an informant to infiltrate a Black Lives Matter protest and instigate violence. This sparked concern that the federal agency is using its power to oppress and intimidate minorities, something it already has a history of doing.
Read MoreEnvisioning a New World Through Abolition Geography
Dr. Ruth Wilson Gilmore believes prisons and policing should be abolished, as the criminal justice system unfairly targets Black communities.
Read MoreMemphis man says he was assaulted by same Scorpion officers charged with Tyre Nichols’ death
Tyre Nichols isn’t the only victim of anti-Black violence from the Memphis SCORPION unit according to Monterrious Harris,
Read MorePolice killing of double amputee in wheelchair sparks outcry and demand for answers
The public and community want answers for the death of Anthony Lowe, a disabled man, who California police shot and killed in January.
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