Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is a movement protesting against racially motivated police brutality and violence against black people. It originated in the United States and went viral in 2013, but by now there have been protests all around the world. The overall BLM movement is a decentralized network of activists with no formal hierarchy.

How it started

The movement began in 2013 after the African-American teenager Treyvon Martin got shot by a neighbourhood whatch volunteer. His killer was found not guilty in court and people started using the #BlackLivesMatter (or for short #BLM) all over social media to get justice for him and his case went viral. However, sadly Treyvon Martin wasn't the only innocent black person who got shot and killed by people claming they want to protect the public. Many came after him, a vast majority of which were shot by police officers. Just to name a few unarmed black people who became victims of police brutality in the US in the past years:

Patrick Lynn Warren Sr., October 7, 1968 - January 10, 2021

Killeen, Texas

Shot: Killeen Police Officer, January 10, 2021

Vincent “Vinny” M. Belmonte, September 14, 2001 - January 5, 2021

Cleveland, Ohio

Shot: Cleveland Police Officer, January 5, 20201

Angelo Quinto, March 10, 1990 - December 26, 2020

Antioch, California

Knee on neck/Asphyxiated: December 23, 2020

Andre Maurice Hill, May 23, 1973 - December 22, 2020

Columbus, Ohio

Shot: December 22, 2020, Columbus Police Officer

Casey Christopher Goodson Jr., January 30, 1997 - December 4, 2020

Columbus, Ohio

Shot: December 4, 2020, Franklin County Sheriff Deputy

Angelo “AJ” Crooms, May 15, 2004 - November 13, 2020

Cocoa, Florida

Shot: November 13, 2020, Brevard County Sheriff Deputies

Sincere Pierce, April 2, 2002 - November 13, 2020

Cocoa, Florida

Shot: November 13, 2020, Brevard County Sheriff Deputies

Marcellis Stinnette, June 17, 2001 - October 20, 2020

Waukegan, Illinois

Shot: October 20, 2020, Waukegan Police Officer

Jonathan Dwayne Price, November 3, 1988 - October 3, 2020

Wolfe City, Texas

Tasered/Shot: October 3, 2020, Wolfe City Police Officer

Dijon Durand Kizzee, February 5, 1991 - August 31, 2020

Los Angeles, California

Shot: August 21, 2020, Los Angeles County Police

Rayshard Brooks, January 31, 1993 - June 12, 2020

Atlanta, Georgia

Shot: June 12, 2020, Atlanta Police Officer

Carlos Carson, May 16, 1984 - June 6, 2020

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Pepper Sprayed/Shot in Head: June 6, 2020, Knights Inn Tulsa Armed Security Guard, former sergeant and detention officer with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office

David McAtee, August 3, 1966 - June 1, 2020

Louisville, Kentucky

Shot: June 1, 2020, Louisville Metropolitan Police Officer

Tony “Tony the TIger” McDade, 1982 - May 27, 2020

Tallahassee, Florida

Shot: May 27, 2020, Tallahassee Police Officers

George Perry Floyd, October 14, 1973 - May 25, 2020

Powderhorn, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Knee on neck/Asphyxiated: May 25, 2020, Minneapolis Police Officer

Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, 1999 - May 6, 2020

Indianapolis, Indiana

Shot: May 6, 2020, Unidentified Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer

Michael Brent Charles Ramos, January 1, 1978 - April 24, 2020

Austin, Texas

Shot: April 24, 2020, Austin Police Detectives

Daniel T. Prude, September 20, 1978 - March 30, 2020

Rochester, New York

Asphyxiation: March 23, 2020, Rochester Police Officers

Breonna Taylor, June 5, 1993 - March 13, 2020

Louisville, Kentucky

Shot: March 13, 2020, Louisville Metro Police Officers

Manuel “Mannie” Elijah Ellis, August 28, 1986 - March 3, 2020

Tacoma, Washington

Physical restraint/Hypoxia: March 3, 2020, Tacoma Police Officers

William Howard Green, March 16, 1976 - January 27, 2020

Temple Hills, Maryland

Shot: January 27, 2020, Prince George’s County Police Officer

John Elliot Neville, 1962 - December 4, 2019

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Asphyxiated (hog-tied in prone position)/Heart Attack/Brain Injury: December 2, 2019, Forsyth County Sheriff Officers

Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, November 28, 1990 - October 12, 2019

Fort Worth, Texas

Shot: October 12, 2019, Fort Worth Police Officer

Elijah McClain, February 25, 1996 - August 30, 2019

Aurora, Colorado

Chokehold/Ketamine/Heart Attack: August 24, 2019, Aurora Police Officers and Paramedic

Ronald Greene, September 28, 1969 - May 10, 2019

Monroe, Louisiana

Stun gun/Force: May 10, 2019, Louisiana State Police

Javier Ambler, October 7, 1978 - March 28, 2019

Austin, Texas

Tasered/Electrocuted: March 28, 2019, Williamson County Sheriff Deputy

Sterling Lapree Higgins, October 27, 1981 - March 25, 2019

Union City, Tennessee

Choke hold/Asphyxiation: March 24-25, 2019, Union City Police Officer and Obion County Sheriff Deputies

Gregory Lloyd Edwards, September 23, 1980 - December 10, 2018

Brevard County Jail, Cocoa, Florida

Kneed, Punched, Pepper Sprayed, Tasered, and Strapped into a restraint chair with a spit hood over his head/Failure to Provide Medical Care: December 9, 2019, Brevard County Sheriffs

Emantic “EJ” Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., June 18, 1997 - November 22, 2018

Hoover, Alabama

Shot: November 22, 2018, Unidentified Hoover Police Officers

Charles “Chop” Roundtree Jr., September 5, 2000 - October 17, 2018

San Antonio, Texas

Shot: October 17, 2018, San Antonio Police Officer

Chinedu Okobi, February 13, 1982 - October 3, 2018

Millbrae, California

Tasered/Electrocuted: October 3, 2018, San Mateo County Sheriff Sergeant and Sheriff Deputies

Anton Milbert LaRue Black, October 18, 1998 - September 15, 2018

Greensboro, Maryland

Tasered/Sudden Cardiac Arrest: September 15, 2018, Greensboro Police Officers

Botham Shem Jean, September 29, 1991 - September 6, 2018

Dallas, Texas

Shot: September 6, 2018, Dallas Police Officer

Antwon Rose Jr., July 12, 2000 - June 19, 2018

East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Shot: June 19, 2018, East Pittsburgh Police Officer

Saheed Vassell, December 22, 1983 - April 4, 2018

Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Shot: April 4, 2018, Four Unnamed New York City Police Officers

Stephon Alonzo Clark, August 10, 1995 - March 18, 2018

Sacramento, California

Shot: March 18, 2018, Sacramento Police Officers

Dennis Plowden Jr., 1992 - December 28, 2017

East Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shot: December 27, 2017, Philadelphia Police Officer

Bijan Ghaisar, September 4, 1992 - November 27, 2017

George Washington Memorial Parkway, Alexandria, Virginia

Shot: November 17, 2017, U.S. Park Police Officers

Aaron Bailey, 1972 - June 29, 2017

Indianapolis, Indiana

Shot: June 29, 2017, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officers

Charleena Chavon Lyles, April 24, 1987 - June 18, 2017

Seattle, Washington

Shot: June 18, 2017, Seattle Police Officers

Fetus of Charleena Chavon Lyles (14-15 weeks), June 18, 2017

Seattle, Washington

Shot: June 18, 2017, Seattle Police Officers

Jordan Edwards, October 25, 2001 - April 29, 2017

Balch Springs, Texas

Shot: April 29, 2017, Balch Springs Officer

Chad Robertson, 1992 - February 15, 2017

Chicago, Illinois

Shot: February 8, 2017, Chicago Police Officer

Deborah Danner, September 25, 1950 - October 18, 2016

The Bronx, New York City, New York

Shot: October 18, 2016, New York City Police Officers

Alfred Olango, July 29, 1978 - September 27, 2016

El Cajon, California

Shot: September 27, 2016, El Cajon Police Officers

Terence Crutcher, August 16, 1976 - September 16, 2016

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Shot: September 16, 2016, Tulsa Police Officer

Terrence LeDell Sterling, July 31, 1985 - September 11, 2016

Washington, DC

Shot: September 11, 2016, Washington Metropolitan Police Officer

Korryn Gaines, August 24, 1993 - August 1, 2016

Randallstown, Maryland

Shot: August 1, 2016, Baltimore County Police

Joseph Curtis Mann, 1966 - July 11, 2016

Sacramento, California

Shot: July 11, 2016, Sacramento Police Officers

Philando Castile, July 16, 1983 - July 6, 2016

Falcon Heights, Minnesota

Shot: July 6, 2016, St. Anthony Police Officer

Alton Sterling, June 14, 1979 - July 5, 2016

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Shot: July 5, 2016, Baton Rouge Police Officers

Bettie “Betty Boo” Jones, 1960 - December 26, 2015

Chicago, Illinois

Shot: December 26, 2015, Chicago Police Officer

Quintonio LeGrier, April 29, 1996 - December 26, 2015

Chicago, Illinois

Shot: December 26, 2015, Chicago Police Officer

Corey Lamar Jones, February 3, 1984 - October 18, 2015

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Shot: October 18, 2015, Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer

Jamar O’Neal Clark, May 3, 1991 - November 16, 2015

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Shot: November 15, 2015, Minneapolis Police Officers

Jeremy “Bam Bam” McDole, 1987 - September 23, 2015

Wilmington, Delaware

Shot: September 23, 2015, Wilmington Police Officers

India Kager, June 9, 1988 - September 5, 2015

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Shot: September 5, 2015, Virginia Beach Police Officers

Samuel Vincent DuBose, March 12, 1972 - July 19, 2015

Cincinnati, Ohio

Shot: July 19, 2015, University of Cincinnati Police Officer

Sandra Bland, February 7, 1987 - July 13, 2015

Waller County, Texas

Excessive Force/Wrongful Death/Suicide (?): July 10, 2015, Texas State Trooper

Brendon K. Glenn, 1986 - May 5, 2015

Venice, California

Shot: May 5, 2015, Los Angeles Police Officer

Freddie Carlos Gray Jr., August 16, 1989 - April 19, 2015

Baltimore, Maryland

Brute Force/Spinal Injuries: April 12, 2015, Baltimore City Police Officers

Walter Lamar Scott, February 9, 1965 - April 4, 2015

North Charleston, South Carolina

Shot: April 4, 2015, North Charleston Police Officer

Eric Courtney Harris, October 10, 1971 - April 2, 2015

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Shot: April 2, 2015, Tulsa County Reserve Deputy

Phillip Gregory White, 1982 - March 31, 2015

Vineland, New Jersey

K-9 Mauling/Respiratory distress: March 31, 2015, Vineland Police Officers

Mya Shawatza Hall, December 5, 1987 - March 30, 2015

Fort Meade, Maryland

Shot: March 30, 2015, National Security Agency Police Officers

Meagan Hockaday, August 27, 1988 - March 28, 2015

Oxnard, California

Shot: March 28, 2015, Oxnard Police Officer

Tony Terrell Robinson, Jr., October 18, 1995 - March 6, 2015

Madison, Wisconsin

Shot: March 6, 2015, Madison Police Officer

Janisha Fonville, March 3, 1994 - February 18 2015

Charlotte, North Carolina

Shot: February 18, 2015, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer

Natasha McKenna, January 9, 1978 - February 8, 2015

Fairfax County, Virginia

Tasered/Cardiac Arrest: February 3, 2015, Fairfax County Sheriff Deputies

Jerame C. Reid, June 8, 1978 - December 30, 2014

Bridgeton, New Jersey

Shot: December 30, 2014, Bridgeton Police Officer

Rumain Brisbon, November 24, 1980 - December 2, 2014

Phoenix, Arizona

Shot: December 2, 2014, Phoenix Police Officer

Tamir Rice, June 15, 2002 - November 22, 2014

Cleveland, Ohio

Shot: November 22, 2014, Cleveland Police Officer

Akai Kareem Gurley, November 12, 1986 - November 20, 2014

Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Shot: November 20, 2014, New York City Police Officer

Tanisha N. Anderson, January 22, 1977 - November 13, 2014

Cleveland, Ohio

Physically Restrained/Brute Force: November 13, 2014, Cleveland Police Officers

Dante Parker, August 14, 1977 - August 12, 2014

Victorville, California

Tasered/Excessive Force: August 12, 2014, San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies

Ezell Ford, October 14, 1988 - August 11, 2014

Florence, Los Angeles, California

Shot: August 11, 2014, Los Angeles Police Officers

Michael Brown Jr., May 20, 1996 - August 9, 2014

Ferguson, Missouri

Shot: August 9, 2014, Ferguson Police Officer

John Crawford III, July 29, 1992 - August 5, 2014

Beavercreek, Ohio

Shot: August 5, 2014, Beavercreek Police Officer

Tyree Woodson, July 8, 1976 - August 2, 2014

Baltimore, Maryland

Shot: August 2, 2014, Baltimore City Police Officer

Eric Garner, September 15, 1970 - July 17, 2014

Staten Island, New York

Choke hold/Suffocated: July 17, 2014, New York City Police Officer

Dontre Hamilton, January 20, 1983 - April 30, 2014

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Shot: April 30, 2014, Milwaukee Police Officer

Victor White III, September 11, 1991 - March 3, 2014

New Iberia, Louisiana

Shot: March 2, 2014, Iberia Parish Sheriff Deputy

Gabriella Monique Nevarez, November 25, 1991 - March 2, 2014

Citrus Heights, California

Shot: March 2, 2014, Citrus Heights Police Officers

Yvette Smith, December 18, 1966 - February 16, 2014

Bastrop County, Texas

Shot: February 16, 2014, Bastrop County Sheriff Deputy

McKenzie J. Cochran, August 25, 1988 - January 29, 2014

Southfield, Michigan

Pepper Sprayed/Compression Asphyxiation: January 28, 2014, Northland Mall Security Guards

Jordan Baker, 1988 - January 16, 2014

Houston, Texas

Shot: January 16, 2014, Off-duty Houston Police Officer

Andy Lopez, June 2, 2000 - October 22, 2013

Santa Rosa, California

Shot: October 22, 2013, Sonoma County Sheriff Deputy

Miriam Iris Carey, August 12, 1979 - October 3, 2013

Washington, DC

Shot 26 times: October 3, 2013, U. S. Secret Service Officer

Barrington “BJ” Williams, 1988 - September 17, 2013

New York City, New York

Neglect/Disdain/Asthma Attack: September 17, 2013, New York City Police Officers

Jonathan Ferrell, October 11, 1989 - September 14, 2013

Charlotte, North Carolina

Shot: September 14, 2013, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer

Carlos Alcis, 1970 - August 15, 2013

Brooklyn, New York City

Heart Attack/Neglect: August 15, 2013, New York City Police Officers

Larry Eugene Jackson Jr., November 29, 1980 - July 26, 2013

Austin, Texas

Shot: July 26, 2013, Austin Police Detective

Kyam Livingston, July 29, 1975 - July 21, 2013

New York City, New York

Neglect/Ignored pleas for help: July 20-21, 2013, New York City Police Officers

Clinton R. Allen, September 26, 1987 - March 10, 2013

Dallas, Texas

Tasered and Shot: March 10, 2013, Dallas Police Officer

Kimani “KiKi” Gray, October 19, 1996 - March 9, 2013

Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Shot: March 9, 2013, New York Police Officers

Kayla Moore, April 17, 1971 - February 13, 2013

Berkeley, California

Restrained face-down prone: February 12, 2013, Berkeley Police Officers

Protests

The first protest happened in August of 2014 after the killing of two African-Americans. It took place in Ferguson, Missouri. However there wasn't just one protest and after which the people forgot about the issue, this protest started a "wave" of protests, which is something that continuously happens throughout the timeline of the BLM movement: A innocent/unamred black person gets murdered by a police officer, which then leads to multible/a "wave" of protests. The arguably biggest "wave" of protests were the George Floyd protests starting in May 2020. There were hundrets of protests all around the world and 26 Million participants in the US alone, making it one of the largest movments in US history.

This a video about Black Lives Matter protests worldwide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vl4I0weXPU

Responses

The majority of people support the Black Lives Matter movement, however there are also people who respond by saying "All Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter".

According to proffesors the phrase "All Lives Matter" is dismissing and ignoring racism and it erases the structural anti-black attitude and it denys the hate motivated killing of black people. Founders and activists of the BLM movement have come forward to say that "#BlackLivesMatter doesn't mean your life isn't important – it means that Black lives, which are seen without value within White supremacy, are important to your liberation.". The former US president Barack Obama said  "I think that the reason that the organizers used the phrase Black Lives Matter was not because they were suggesting that no one else's lives matter ... rather what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that is happening in the African American community that's not happening in other communities. That is a legitimate issue that we've got to address."

Blue Lives Matter is another countermovement to the BLM movement that was started in the US after the homicide of two NYPD officers. It suggests that people who kill a law enforcement officer are should recive a sentence unter hate crime status.

Many find this countermovement especially disrespectful since police officers chose their job and to risk their lives in their day to day job and everytime they come home, they take the blue shirt off and go back to their private lives (which doesn't justify killing them by any means); black people didn't choose to be black nor can they hide that they are. There is also no systematic oppression of police officers, so they have a completely different situation to begin with.