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)’
Biden 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.
Read MoreOnline racism is linked to PTSD symptoms in Black youth, study finds
A recent study has shown that Black children and teens are exposed to a concerning amount of racist hate online, which may be connected to rising suicide rates.
Read MoreIt’s Getting Hot in Here
Journalist Willy Blackmore discusses the concerns he’s developed while researching to write about climate change and environmental justice.
Read MoreGeorgia Election Worker Testifies Against Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani: “I Was Afraid For My Life”
A Georgia election worker was sent racist death threats after former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani accused her of rigging the polls.
Read MoreBlack man choked and shocked by police died because of drugs, officers’ lawyers argue at trial
A defense trial for three police officers in Tacoma, Washington rages onward due to the brutal murder of Manuel Ellis, a black man who was murdered in a mirror event to George Floyd three months prior to Floyd’s death.
Read MoreTeaching Black Teens the Signs of Dating Violence
1 in 3 teens in the U.S. experience dating violence. However, being Black and a woman puts you at an even higher risk, according to a recent study.
Read MoreAn Officer Is Charged With Murder. Colleagues Briefly Drop Their Guns.
Tension is rising between London’s Metropolitan Police Service and the public after officers shot an unarmed Black man in London.
Read MoreTrial to begin in death of Elijah McClain, who was injected with ketamine while in a police chokehold
The first of three trials for the two Aurora police officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain has begun.
Read MoreCalifornia’s Congressional Black Caucus Push For Reparations After Poll Shows Voter Opposition
A new poll from the University of California, Berkeley found that a majority of residents oppose Black residents receiving casreparations, even after the state Assembly recommended them.
Read MoreRest In Power Elijah McClain: A Complete Timeline Of Everyone Being Held Accountable In His Death
The officers responsible for Elijah McClain’s death will finally be prosecuted for ending the young man’s life.
Read More