The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor in the USA have sparked a new wave of protests over the past few weeks, under the Black Lives Matter. The movement came as a blow against the systematic violence, deaths, and racism of the “elite whites” towards the black and indigenous people.
The movement was also against the armed violence of the police that leads to the deaths of men of color and indigenous people. People took up the streets and began to protest not just against the police but also the Trump government of the time.
People of all age groups, varied gender came together and stood hand in hand. People flocked the streets barricaded multiple areas, formed a human chain as a representation of their support and as a symbol for the end of this systematic violence.
But what leads to such a large scale protest that became the biggest protest of American history since the civil war and the American revolution itself.
Timeline of the events that lead to the BLM
- 2013 - The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, following the death of an African-American teenager, Trayvon Martin was shot while walking to a family friend's house.
- 2014 – In July 2014, Eric Garner died in New York City after a policeman put him in a chokehold while arresting him. In the following month, unarmed teenager Michael Brown was killed by a gunshot from a police officer.
- 2015 – A spate of Black people killed by police officers in the USA, including Megan Hockaday, Freddie Gray, and Walter Scott. Following the event, 21 transgender people were killed in 2015 by police of which 13 were black.
- 2016 - Police brutality towards Black people further lead to the deaths of Deborah Danner and Alton Sterling.
- 2017 - Black Lives Matter campaigners were among counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia in the year 2017.
- 2018 – 2018 marked five years of action, Black Lives Matter continued to highlight the deaths of Black people who had lost their lives at the hands of US police that year, including Grechario Mack and Kenneth Ross Jr.
- 2019 - February 2019, the rapper 21 Savage was arrested and detained by the US's immigration agency, ICE. In May 2019, Oklahoma teenager Isaiah Lewis was shot by police and killed.
- 2020 – The movement reached its peak with the in-custody murder of George Floyd. A video went viral showing a police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck. Officers were charged with second-degree murder.
Following this, the movement reached an extend when it seemed like American was hosting the second civil war. Demands we’re made to defund the police.
To an extent, the demands were achieved. The protesters were humiliated but they still decided to stand for their fellow society members.
The movement continues to the date - #Black Lives Matter
Some anti-protestors to defame the movement vandalized the stores and even started fires but at last, the movement was successful in achieving what it desired and fought for.
The movement not only had an effect on the racism towards the black and indigenous people but also towards the Asians as well. In India, it helped to bring a degree of end to the racism done based on color.
Indian cosmetic company that advertised Fair and Lovely, changed its name to Glow and Lovely. It taught people that every color is beautiful and indeed special.
Written By Tanu
Edited By Vijaya
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