What is Black Lives Matter?

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a grassroots movement with the overall goal of supporting the Black community, especially by curbing police violence and racism in the criminal justice system.

In response to police brutality cases, BLM protesters believe that violence against Black people is supported by racism in government. They believe that the criminal justice system is biased against Black people, citing arrest rates, incarceration rates, and police violence cases among other figures. As a result, they strive for better government oversight, police department reform, and justice for victims of police violence. They believe that changes like these will prevent the trend of violence against Black people that has been highlighted by the murder of George Floyd, the almost fatal shooting of Jacob Blake, and the militant actions of Kyle Rittenhouse.

Beyond these goals, Black Lives Matter also advocates for LGBTQ rights and fights against ageism and sexism. More broadly, BLM began as a movement that connects Black people of all nations, genders, sexualities, and ages to work toward achieving justice and fostering an active community. A more explicit definition of the Black Lives Matter mission can be found on their website, and more than 40 local chapters of BLM express similar goals.

In 2013, George Zimmerman, captain of a Florida neighborhood watch, killed unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin. Martin’s murder and Zimmerman’s acquittal sparked national outrage and marked the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement.

After Trayvon Martin’s murder, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi officially founded the Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. Increased media coverage of police violence in the following years galvanized BLM’s mission. The largest uproar which continues today began with the death of George Floyd in May. Since then, the organization has launched the #WhatMatters2020 initiative to pressure 2020 political candidates to support BLM’s goals.

The Black Lives Matter foundation is an organization that promotes “group-centered leadership.” In other words, people only need to support BLM’s beliefs in order to belong to the cause. Similar to the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter is “a spiritual, emotional movement created [in response to] implicit evils in our society,” according to civil rights leader Andrew Young.