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)’
What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
Read this article to delve into the origins of Black History Month, which is one of the first organized history celebrations in the United States.
Read MoreThe Dawn of a New Era of Oppression
The author of this opinion piece argues that oppression against Black people always surges after eras of progress. We might be seeing an example of this after the 2020 protests.
Read MoreSchools are increasingly a location for hate crimes, FBI data shows
While the majority of hate crimes used to occur on the streets, they’re now moving closer to home– our children’s schools.
Read MoreCentral Park 5 exoneree and council member says police stopped him without giving a reason
Yusef Salaam, a member of a group of five Black men wrongly convicted of raping a white woman, was pulled over for “dark tinted windows.” However, he was not given this explanation until days later, leading him to wonder if the stop would have escalated had he not revealed his position on NYC’s council.
Read MoreLouisville police are accused of wrongful arrest and excessive force against a Black man
Louisville police are accused of police brutality against a 21 year old Black man for nothing more than walking in the vicinity of a stolen vehicle.
Read MoreRacial Health Gaps Spurring Church-Led Fitness Classes
Churches across the country are working to improve the both the physical and mental health of their congregations by encouraging exercise through offered classes.
Read MoreHakim, Meet Hakeem: How a Young City Farmer Got to Know a Congressman
Young Hakim Jeffrey brought fresh food to his public housing community in Brooklyn and was recognized for it by congressman Hakeem Jeffries.
Read MoreNorth Carolina man exonerated after 44 years of wrongful imprisonment to receive $25 million settlement
Ronnie Long was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting a white woman by an all white jury over 44 years ago. He was recently exonerated and freed, as well as given a large settlement for his suffering.
Read MoreHaley accuses Biden of giving ‘offensive’ speech at the church where racist mass shooting occurred
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley did not take kindly to Biden making a political speech at the site of a fatal hate crime against African Americans. She went so far as to accuse Biden of being a racist himself.
Read MoreBiden to Appeal to Black Voters in Campaign Trip to Charleston, S.C.
President Biden will visit Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church this week, the site of a fatal hate crime in 2015, to remind voters of the significance of this election concerning racism and extremism.
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