Black Lives Matter

#BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM)

The Black Lives Matter movement is a continuum of the Civil Rights Movement. It fights against the systemic discrimination that has been implicit and explicitly implemented at the federal, state, and local level politics. The biggest issue at hand is currently the issue of police brutality against Black people, but issues concerning environmental racism, political representation, black involvement in other social movements, and the lack of representation in mainstream media have fueled the blatant racism that taints the corrupt and archaic United States political system. Black Lives Matter and by educating yourself on your own privilege and the constant oppression of Black people in this country this movement can keep growing past a hashtag.

Visit https://blacklivesmatter.com/ for more information

"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible"
- Dr. Maya Angelou

The sTART of THE movement

In 2012 Trayvon Benjamin Martin was unjustly murdered by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. When decided to purchase a late night snack he encountered Zimmerman on his way home. Though Martin was unarmed, twenty-eight year old Zimmerman decided that Martin was a threat and fatally shot the 17 year old. Martin was an adored son whose life ended prematurely. After being charged Zimmerman was acquitted the following year. Justice was never served. Today, Martin's mother, Sabrina Fulton, has dedicated her life to sharing her son's story and is running for local office in Florida. The life and legacy of Trayvon Martin will live on.

The Cases that Sparked the 2020 resurgence of the Black Lives matter movement

George Floyd was a loving father, brother, and son. He was killed after Police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes as his fellow officers restrained him. Floyd said " I can't breath" moments before his brutal death. The life and legacy of George Floyd will live on.

Ahmaud Arbery was a loving son and brother who was heinously killed on February 23,2020. While Arbery was enjoying an afternoon jog when he was followed and shot by three white men. Arbery's case is a story of modern day lynching and his killers have remained unpunished. The life and legacy of Ahmaud Arbery will live on.

After being abruptly awoken by the sounds of her front door being rammed open Breonna Taylor was fatally shot several times in her home by police. The life and legacy of Breonna Taylor will live on.

Petitions

Donation Pages

See their faces.
Say their Names.

BLM’s #WhatMatters2020

Politics // June 2020

Effective change begins in the ballot box. However, with so many disenfranchised, every ally needs to support petitions, attend protests, and get out to vote to make structural changes and demands on an entirely reformed system. According to the BLM website, the #WhatMatters2020 is "campaign aimed to maximize the impact of the BLM movement by galvanizing BLM supporters and allies to the polls in the 2020 U.S Presidential Election to build collective power and ensure candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically and disproportionately impact Black and under-served communities across the nation"
(BLM 2020).

AVOIDing Activist BURNOUT and healing

Social // June 2020

Activist burnout due to a prolonged engagement in a movement for a cause, but over time, the motivation and passion for the cause slowly becomes disconnected and dwindles. We must remember that for many people this is not an issue that they can just 'burnout' from as they face a target day after day. However, keeping mental health in check and taking time to heal for this movement is important.

aL JAzeera interactive

Social // September 2020

Check out this interactive slideshow created by Alia Chughai for Al Jazeera. You will learn the names of police violence victims in the United States and their stories.