The ideas behind Black Lives Matter (BLM) are not new. BLM is a continuation of the civil rights movement—it just has a newer name and a more visible presence. Those of us who support BLM generally believe that it’s up to all of us to understand the history of racism, and to work together to figure out how to stop the harm it causes, whether that harm is intentional or unintentional. The underlying idea is not that Black lives matter more, it’s that Black lives matter too.
BLM is a nonviolent movement. There have been almost 11,000 BLM protests/rallies across the U.S., and over 90% of those were nonviolent. Most aggression at these protests is started either by police or by counter-protesters. Peaceful protests in Minneapolis and Kenosha, for example, were inflamed by the actions of White Supremacists. A group of Cook County residents have gotten together every Friday since the George Floyd killing. The purpose of these BLM rallies is to bring attention to racism, and to stand in solidarity with those who are doing social justice work. The rallies have been lawful and peaceful. Lately, however, counter-protesters have shown up and tried to bully us with flag-waving and loud trucks. Our group has even been sprayed with diesel fuel.
Under the U.S. constitution, we have a right to peacefully protest. So do you. Peacefully. Bullying does not make your position stronger—it makes you look desperate. Assault is against the law. Instead of attacking us, it would be more helpful for counter-protesters to let people know exactly what they believe and why. We may not agree, but we can agree to disagree. Peacefully. We may even find some common ground. What we need now more than ever: community, unity, sanity.
Jennifer Schulz,
Grand Marais
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