July 21st 2023.
July 13, 2023 marks a special day in history. Ten years prior, the Black Lives Matter movement was founded by activists Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi. It was born in response to the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. Martin, who was Black, was gunned down near his father's residence in Florida after purchasing a pack of Skittles. Zimmerman, a white Hispanic male, assumed Martin was a robber and was acquitted by an almost exclusively white jury panel.
The tragedy of Martin's death sparked nationwide outrage and prompted a push for police reform. Today, BLM has become a global network, and will be commemorating the anniversary with in-person and virtual events. Melina Abdullah, director of BLM Grassroots Inc., spoke to Click Orlando about the movement. “What this movement moment means is that we have to absolutely redouble our efforts and redouble our commitment to making Black lives matter,” she said.
On July 15, the Los Angeles chapter will be holding the “#BLMTurns10 People’s Justice Festival” in Leimert Park. The event will feature a garden dedicated to victims of police violence, with Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton speaking at the event. Philosopher and political activist Dr. Cornel West, who recently announced his candidacy for the presidency, will also make an appearance.
In addition, the Black Lives Matter movement is leading a campaign called the Defund the Police Week of Action. There are also calls for a draft proclamation, declaring July 13 “Black Lives Matter.” D’Zhane Parker, a board member of BLM Global Network Foundation, expressed that “we need our elected officials to focus on the people, not police. The safest places around the world don’t have more police, more jails, more prisons, or harsher sentences. They have better access to economic opportunities, quality education, stable housing, and health care.”
As the Black Lives Matter movement celebrates its 10th anniversary, they will be honoring the lives lost to police violence and pushing for positive change. Their mission to create a safe and just world for all is ongoing, and they will continue to fight for justice and equity.
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