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All Lives Matter Movement Angers #BlackLivesMatter Followers, But Why?

By Dee Sharp
Published on: 10:14 PST, Jul 10, 2016

https://youtu.be/YLpJWrvDqxw

In the aftermath of the Dallas shootings on Thursday, many celebrities took to Twitter and posted tweets with “All Lives Matter” themes, but some quickly deleted their tweets due to backlash from those in the #BlackLivesMatter movement, according to an article on NBC News. That made many people question why these celebrities were so quick to take back their support of the All Lives Matter movement. Some people feel that the All Lives Matter movement undermines The Black Lives Matter movement, which began out of protest of black men being killed unnecessarily.

The movement gained momentum after it began in 2012 after George Zimmerman was acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin. The movement has also been misaligned by some because of statements by some people who said that black people should start killing white people. The movement itself does not endorse violence, but protests the discrimination of black people and the killing of far too many black men and youth simply because of the color of their skin.

After the man who identified with the Black Lives Matter movement fired at officers, killing five, at a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas, the All Lives Matter tweets started flowing, angering some black people. Some of the celebrities deleted their tweets but some defended the movement, affirming that all lives mattered. While all lives do matter, the #BlackLivesMatter movement is an outcry for black people to stand up for themselves after being discriminated against for far too long. The Dallas shooting happened during a peaceful BLM protest and the group has denounced the shooter saying that he was “a lone gunman.” The Black Lives Matter website issued a statement on Friday saying that they do not condone violence.

“Black activists have raised the call for an end to violence, not an escalation of it. Yesterday’s attack was the result of the actions of a lone gunman. To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible. We continue our efforts to bring about a better world for all of us.”

So why did people get angry at celebrities posting All Lives Matter tweets? They were angry because they feel that black lives have been targeted simply because of the color of their skin. They were angry because they have to bury their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives, all because the color of their skin determines whether they should live or die in a simple traffic stop. They were angry because they feel that black lives don’t matter as much as other lives, and history has confirmed that. They were angry because they feel that they are not being recognized for their pain and bitterness against a society that demonizes black skin color.

I am a white woman who feels empathy for all black people. I hear their indignation, their cries for equality. I believe that all lives matter, because we are all of the same race; the human race. But I know that Black Lives Matter more right now, because they are the ones who are being targeted. I cry because I don’t see anything changing anytime soon, because regardless of either movement, people are still being killed simply for the color of their skin.

The gunman in Dallas wanted to kill white people, specifically white cops, and he succeeded. The fact that the cops he killed have never been involved in shooting a black man without warrant didn’t matter to him. The fact that our country still has a way to go to heal the wounds of racism is evident. Violence never solves anything, only understanding and compassion will ever put an end to the violence in our country.

The world is so full of hate at the moment we tend to forget that just because there is one bad apple in the bushel, it doesn’t mean the whole bushel is tainted. That goes for all walks of life; Muslims, Christians, blacks, whites, politicians, and police. Just remember that not all police are bad either, and we need to support all law enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday in order to keep us safe. My heart goes out to all who are misaligned for the deeds and actions of others.

[Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

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