While the “Black Lives Matter” movement has gained traction on social media following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black Americans shot dead last week by police, the “All Lives Matter” slogan has since emerged following the shootings of police officers in the United States.
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“With an open heart, police departments will acknowledge that, just like the rest of us, they are not flawless; that insisting we do better to root out racial bias is not an attack on cops, but an effort to live up to our highest ideals”, the president said at the ceremony. In another, she sent a text to her two young nephews to be mindful of how they act when in the presence of police.
Obama, in response to a question from Edward Flynn, the white Milwaukee police chief, issued a full-throated defense of the Black Lives Matter movement and its name, saying it serves to bring attention to inequities in poor and minority communities.
The national debate has produced everything from victims sharing their personal experiences with law enforcement to political figures voicing opinions on these events with hardened positions.
Many may look at the viral videos of violence and the statistics pointed out and believe that black British women and the black British community as a whole, are compelled to protest and speak out against America’s injustices simply because we share the same skin tone.
“Central Park School for Children in Durham, North Carolina has enrolled grade-school students in a “Black Lives March and Rally” scheduled for March 17, 2016″, Robert Mihaly wrote in a column which appeared in The Daily Caller.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to say it: America has a problem within its police force”, Noah said. “Police brutality is happening here, it is just happening on a smaller scale; or, should I say, a quieter scale”.
The police officers whose lives were lost in Dallas last week night – who, just hours before, were standing in solidarity with peaceful protesters of police violence – remind us of the shared human desire to live in peace and the potential that exits to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and our communities. You don’t ask why: “you’re black”, said Cadet.
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“We were sad, sad because all this was going to was another hashtag, sad because we felt voiceless”, Mdour said. The event is taking place at the same time as the Tramlines festival and organisers have agreed the route with police. Associated Press writers Jessica Gresko and Paul Holston in Washington, D.C.; Kevin McGill and Cain Burdeau in New Orleans; and Rachelle Blidner in New York City contributed to this report. Contact him at [email protected], on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jessejholland and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland.
