This grew into a movement, co-founded by three Black community organisers, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.Ĭoncerns and anger about racism towards Black people was reinvigorated more recently after several high-profile, racially charged incidents in the US.īlack Lives Matter is a revolutionary peace movement Zimmerman claimed the act was in self-defence and was later acquitted.Īfter this, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter began to appear on social media, in support of Martin and in protest against social and systemic racism - that is, racism in society and through institutions. Local resident George Zimmerman reported Martin to police as “suspicious”, then confronted the innocent young man and fatally shot him. In February 2012, 17-year-old African-American Trayvon Martin was walking home in Florida, after buying Skittles at a convenience store. This can be traced back to a tragic incident almost nine years ago. Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s comments about Black Lives Matter have outraged his political opponents.
