Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international social movement formed in the United States in 2013, dedicated to fighting racism and anti-Black violence, particularly police brutality. The movement began as an online hashtag (#BlackLivesMatter) created by activists Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to George Zimmerman's acquittal in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in February 2012. BLM operates as a decentralized movement with local chapters across the United States and globally, organizing grassroots activism to address systemic racism and racial inequality in the criminal justice system.

Black Lives Matter addresses persistent disparities in how law enforcement treats Black people, as they are killed by police at significantly higher rates than white people in the United States. The movement gained national prominence following high-profile police killings, particularly the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City in 2014, and most notably George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, whose death sparked over 450 major protests across the United States and three continents. The movement emphasizes that systemic racism and police brutality continue to affect Black communities, making ongoing advocacy for criminal justice reform and accountability essential.

People engage with the Black Lives Matter movement through street demonstrations, protests, and organizing campaigns that demand police accountability and policy reform. Activists stage public gatherings such as rallies, candlelight vigils, and marches to raise awareness and apply pressure for legislative and systemic changes. Community organizing efforts include local chapter coordination, educational events, advocacy campaigns, and strategic engagement with policymakers to advance racial justice initiatives.