"Black Lives Matter", a slogan that carries and a movement that weighs

A man kneels on the ground in front of the slogan "—Black Lives Matter—" near the White House in Washington, June 7, 2020. REUTERS / Lucas Jackson

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In a few years, "Black Lives Matter" has gained importance in the United States, but has also inspired actions elsewhere in the world, as we have seen in recent days. How is the movement organized?

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With our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki

"Black Lives Matter". Three words shouted by millions of people in all the demonstrations, written on the signs and taken up on social networks. Originally, the slogan was launched by three activists in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin , a 17-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white man who was carrying out neighborhood surveillance.

But it was not until a year later, after the deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson that the movement gained momentum. The slogan "Black Lives Matter" became synonymous with the fight against police violence and institutional racism.

Network of local organizations

Technically, "Black Lives Matter" does have a website and a significant presence on social networks. But if the three founders still play important roles, the movement officially has no president or single representative. It is more defined as a platform that relies on hundreds of associations and local organizations.

Dozens of signs displayed in Parliament Square during a demonstration in London on June 7, 2020. REUTERS / Hannah McKay

Recent protests have shown that "BLM", as some people call it, has become a force in the United States within a few years.

K-Pop group donates $ 1 million

Today, its activists are no longer limited to the fight against police violence but are carrying out more global actions for the black community: better living conditions, better health care, better education…

Sunday, the K-Pop group BTS announced this weekend a million dollars to support the movement. The funds received from artists like the Sid-Korean group should notably be used to finance actions carried out with town halls and local governments, as well as programs in favor of the black community.

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  • United States
  • Racism
  • Society
  • Social issues

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