Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a social justice movement founded on social media in the Summer of 2013, immediately following the acquittal of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on charges related to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. The acquittal was seen by many as indicative of a pervasive disregard for the lives of black people in the United States and especially in the criminal justice system.

The organization began as a vocal, online protest incorporating the "#BlackLivesMatter" as a hashtag on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms. It was initiated by community organizers Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, who knew each other through involvement in the group "Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity" (BOLD). Garza's posting, ""A Love Note to Black People", was shared using the hashtag and set forth the basic premise that the lives of African Americans are consistently undervalued by American society and its institutions. Much of the movement's attention has focused on the issue of racial bias with regard to police brutality. As such, many of the movement's largest protests have been staged in direct response to police shootings of African Americans. Black Lives Matter protests have often involved confrontational tactics, such as blockading public streets or staging "die ins", in which protesters feign death, at public events or crowded spaces.

The rapid spread of the hashtag as an online meme made it a rallying cry for hundreds of real-world protests and demonstrations. Initially these were organized independently, encompassing a wide range of beliefs and demands that could be loosely united under the Black Lives Matter slogan. Soon Garza, Cullors and Tometi launched a "Black Lives Matter Network" that provided a forum for organizers and allies and set forth statement of shared principles and goals. The website explains that "#BlackLivesMatter is an online forum intended to build connections between Black people and our allies to fight anti-Black racism, to spark dialogue among Black people, and to facilitate the types of connections necessary to encourage social action and engagement." As "chapters" of the movement organized in various cities, the founders explicitly declined to "police" the degree to which their beliefs and goals were in full agreement with the national network. Membership requirements are left to individual chapters.

The phrase has also provoked backlash from critics and from people concerned for the safety of law enforcement officers. The phrases or hashtags "All Lives Matter" and "Police Lives Matter" have been used in opposition to "Black Lives Matter", prompting public debates about the motivations and racial attitudes of various activists. References to the movement and its concerns played a role in the 2016 presidential campaign, and activists affiliated with the movement interrupted several campaign events for various candidates and staged a large rally that prompted the cancellation of a planned event for Republican candidate Donald Trump in Chicago, Illinois.

Black Lives Matter in Birmingham

A Black Lives Matter Birmingham (BLMB) group was founded in November 2014 by activists Avee-Ashanti Shabazz and Mercutio Southall. That group led several protests at major shopping centers on "Black Friday" and through the Christmas shopping season.

In 2015 Cara McClure and Kahmille Burroughs led a group of mostly female activists in a break away from that organization, forming a new Magic City Chapter of Black Lives Matter which, unlike BLMB, sought to become an affiliate of the national Black Lives Matter Network.

On August 28, 2015 former cable news commentator Glenn Beck and Bishop Jim Lowe of the Guiding Light Church jointly led a large "Restoring Unity Rally" in Birmingham during which participants chanted "All Lives Matter" and Beck stated "If we can’t say 'all lives matter,' then, honestly, nothing matters."

On September 3 an editorial column by Burroughs was published on Al.com criticizing that rally. She found fault with the "sneakiness" by which it was planned with little input from community groups and condemned the "hijacking" of the sites and rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement for a "counterfeit" All Lives Matter event raising funds for overseas aid as "disrespectful."

A few days later, Lowe appeared on CNN to explain his participation in the rally. The Magic City Chapter of Black Lives Matter issued another statement afterward to dispute his characterization of conversations he had with affiliated activists over the issue of condemning violence.

Shabazz and Southall published a statement on their Facebook page explaining that the conversations with Lowe and the published statements did not represent their group, although they similarly condemned Lowe for his involvement in Beck's rally. They also highlighted their recognition as representatives of Black Lives Matter in discussions with local officials and in leading local events.

Subsequently (and confusingly), the Magic City Chapter adopted the name Black Lives Matter - Birmingham Chapter in parallel with the naming style used by other chapters affiliated with the national network. They charge that in order to avoid confusion that the older group formed in 2014 should stop using the Black Lives Matter name altogether.

References

• Burroughs, Kahmille (September 3, 2015) "Glenn Beck rally was insulting to Birmingham and black lives." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (September 8, 2015) "Black Lives Matter group rips All Lives Matter march leader for joining 'right-wing attacks'." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (September 10, 2015) "Black Lives Matter group splits: Who speaks for BLM in Birmingham?." The Birmingham News
• "Black Lives Matter" (August 3, 2016) Wikipedia - accessed August 3, 2016

External links

• Black Lives Matter Network website

[Category:Civil rights activists]]