#BlackLivesMatter – From Hashtag to Global Movement
/"Black Lives Matter" or BLM as we have commonly seen it used in social media posts and protest banners in the last few weeks all over the world, started in 2013 in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the death of African-American teen, Trayvon Martin.
The Black Lives Matter Foundation is a global organization in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to "build local power" to intervene on the violence against the black community.
In 2014, it gained prominence across the United States after the death of two African-Americans. With the death of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis on the 25th of May this year, #BlackLivesMatter gained international attention. It has become much more than just a hashtag to be used by social media users to express solidarity with the protests in the United States. Floyd's death has sparked an international anti-racism and civil rights movement in many countries. In Canada too, many events were held in support of the movement.
Photo by landon morris
In Antigonish, two StFX students – Quincy Meh and Catherine Kennedy – organized a Black Lives Matter March on 6th of June. Dr. Chris Frazer from the Department of History at StFX and six other people set up a committee to support their initiative. The aim was that the people of Antigonish could make a statement in support of "Black Lives Matter" and to "engage in the struggle to end racism once and for all." The march saw nearly 4,000 people on the streets of Antigonish, sending one united message: "Black Lives Matter." Some Facebook pages reported that it was the largest demonstration in Antigonish's history. Many watchers and participants reported that "the energy and the positivity of the people" was amazing. The objective of the march was to create a platform to speak out and be heard and to give an opportunity for the authorities to hear and listen to the voices of Black people.
As Dr. Frazer said in his message, “The march was just the beginning… laying the ground for real change to happen in our community.” Commenting on the march, a Facebook user from the Antigonish community said, "Very inspiring! With this energy and passion, we can sense a groundswell of hope for justice and peace. It starts with respect and empathy. Hopefully, the law-makers are listening!"
The death of George Floyd has led many organizations and businesses to look for ways to invest in Black communities, in the interest of diversity and equality. Symphony Nova Scotia reportedly plans to highlight Black artists and composers and artists of colour throughout the year, while a non-profit group in Halifax plans to promote products from different Black-owned businesses in the area.
Photo by landon morris
All these efforts are just like drops in the ocean, but we are hopeful that together they will be able to bring the desired policy changes. Finally, a video prayer posted on the website of the Diocese of Antigonish:
“Together we pray for our brothers and sisters who are affected by racial discrimination and injustice especially members of the Black community. May we unite in prayer, fasting and almsgiving so that the Spirit of the Lord can help us find true healing and renewal.” #BlackLivesMatter.
