[Trigger warning]
Black Lives Matter (BLM) – an international human rights movement, originating from within the African-American community, which campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests speaking out against police brutality and police killings of black people, and broader issues such as racial profiling, and racial inequality in the criminal justice system.
If you have been on any form of social media, watched the news or even spoken to anyone at school, then you probably know about black lives matter.
#blacklivesmatter has been a universal hashtag for many years but has recently flooded the media. This is due to the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
George Floyd was an African-American man who was killed by police during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25th 2020. He died after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee to George’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. This arrest was filmed and has flooded the media.
Breonna Taylor was an African-American woman who was fatally shot by police officers in her own apartment on March 13th 2020. She was 26 years old and an emergency room technician training to be an E.M.T.
These deaths have caused an international outrage on the justice system towards people of colour and since then, there have been protests all around the world, not only in response to George Floyd’s and Breonna Taylor’s death but the broader issue of police violence against people of colour.
Since the protests have spread internationally, there have been many questions and statements of Australia’s involvement in this sensitive topic.
Why do we care? Why are we protesting? This is not our issue. We’re so lucky we don’t have this here.
I hate to break to you, but we have these issues here.
Indigenous people are continuous victims of police brutality. Did you know that Australia has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world? There have been over 425 deaths of Indigenous people in custody.
You may have already covered the stolen generation in history, but did you know over 40,000 aboriginal kids have been forcibly removed to foster care?
We have one of the highest suicide rates in the world. It’s time for a change.
So how can we help?
sign petitions
there are so many petitions that can really make a difference to what is going on in the world. here is a link of petitions you can sign :)
donate
donate to official pages to help those in need, whether it’s money or time. some links only require you to watch a video with ads, the money from those going to those in need.
educate
educate yourself and those around you! we are bombarded with so much information every day that it’s good to look at reliable sources and educate yourself.
protests/rallies
if you can, go to protests and rallies, it really makes a difference. this link gives tips to those who want to go to a protest with ways to stay safe, tips, and first aid instructions.
text or call
did you know that if you text and call these numbers it makes a huge difference? texting & calling these numbers shows the mass numbers of people who want to make a change.
there are many more ways that we can make a positive difference, it’s important that we stand up for what is right and what is just.
– lauren
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