What fueled the Black Lives Matter Movement?

CPT Ahmed Faried — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 10:20:05 -0500

As with any issue in America, politics and ideology often decide which side of said issue we will fall on. Since it's inception the black lives matter has faced its share of opponents and supporters. Most rightwing media, with Fox News at the helm have created the narrative that BLM is a terrorist organization, play select footage to strengthen their case and bring on guest panelists that won't disagree with that narrative and their viewers seem to run with it. Other media, though not as focused on BLM generally treat is as a movement that isn't nefarious in nature. I personally don't buy the Fox News narrative, I wanted to share a video that adroitly captures my thoughts on what this movement is and isn't. If you are unwilling to have your views challenged you might want to steer clear of this topic. Some significant emotional events might follow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPXf8pd4a_o

Ben Swann - Black Lives Matter a Hate Group? Reality Check... | Facebook

Gwinett County Sheriff Butch Conway says that Black Lives Matter is not only a hate group and domestic terrorists but that to his knowledge there is not...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 10:36 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 10:36:24 -0500

I support the idea, but do not support all the fringe elements that have emerged with the support of BLM. If they would come out and state they are against the murder of police and all groups that state that , they would do better with the majority of people, regardless of color.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 3 at 2015 11:19 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 11:19:45 -0500

CPT Ahmed Faried - I believe the BLM movement probably started with good intent but, as with most things today, has been hijacked by extremists. Like it or not, and admit it or not, the group is now looked upon as a disruptive organization and a threat to police officers. This is fueled by the actions of a few and the media spin/coverage given to them.

I think it unfair to accuse FOX News of bias without citing the obvious bias of the other networks to liberal views/agendas/candidates/causes. Let's try to be "Fair and Balanced", shall we... :-)

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 3 at 2015 11:31 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 11:31:50 -0500

Politics and division.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Nov 3 at 2015 1:11 PM

MAJ Jim Steven — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:11:37 -0500

on the one hand, BLM was legit in that it pointed out that we really need to tighten up our policing and patrolling procedures. Cops assuming everyone is guilty or (and it seemed to screw over Blacks more than anyone else). It also represented the ideal that if a cop killed a man, the cop should be investigated - it seemed like quite a few black people were dying at the hands of cops, and nothing really happened to them.
However, on the other hand, you get those nut jobs who start advocating for the killing of cops, that Blacks can never do anything wrong (driving while black ??), or that "all lives matter" is a slap in the face (racist statement) and that is what leads Fox Entertainment to call it a hate group.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Nov 3 at 2015 1:27 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:27:40 -0500

It is fair for any group to ask for and receive fair treatment by the police/courts etc. It is not appropriate for that group to call for violence on the police/courts or other citizens that are different colors than them. The BLM group has enough very loud and very racist/violent members in it to give it a bad name and to cause most to recoil from it.

Some folks also need to hold up a mirror to themselves and ask if they are part of the problem or the solution. Most of the most vocal are part of the problem. Calling for violence, turning a blind eye to it, celebrating it etc. Is poor citizenship, period. The BLM group has a prototype for how to do this. Martin Luther King Jr. who certainly had many opportunities to become violent and was provoked many, many times never did. MLK knew that his behavior in the face of unfair treatment would cause the change he was looking for.

BLM calling for violence will never gain the moral high ground and will only be viewed by most as a violent (perhaps terrorist) organization bent on causing discontent and not working for real change in a free and open society. When your poster child is Michael Brown, you have started on the wrong foot. That is a simple truth that the unwilling seem unable to grasp.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 3:01 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 15:01:11 -0500

Ok, so my thoughts on this video are as follows. The man in the video, says himself that in most of the situations he referenced officers involved were charged and face sentencing. In fact, he focused specifically on the cases that represented ACTUAL misconduct by police officers, which was met with ACTUAL repercussions. What he didn't focus on, was the Treyvon Martin case, which was immediately misrepresented throughout the nation as some poor black kid shot to death by whitey while walking home. He didn't mention the edited 911 tapes aired on national television which removed the dispatcher asking Zimmerman what race the individual was, instead having him randomly blurt out that "he's black", or the fact that Zimmerman wasn't white. He didn't talk about the eye witness account that at the moment he was shot, Treyvon was ground pounding Zimmerman's face into the concrete. He didn't mention the Michael Brown case, which spurred riots after a man caught on video committing armed robbery was minutes later shot to death in an altercation with a police officer, which had false witness testimony creating a false "Hands Up Don't Shoot" mantra, proven by autopsy results (including those privately done by Brown's family). He also didn't reference the BLM at all really, choosing not to cover the rioting, looting and destruction of property that occurred in Baltimore, following the event that led to the arrest of six police officers. He didn't cover the BLM organized protests chanting, "Pigs in a blanket, Fry 'em like bacon" in Minnesota, “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!” in New York, and on and on. He didn't mention the celebrations carried out in the name of BLM, after officers were executed. Frankly, he didn't cover the movement at all. The fact of the matter is our inner cities are plagued with drugs, gangs and crime of every kind. The kids in the inner cities are raised to have no respect for cops, or authority of any kind, and when any situation occurs, before any of the facts come out, the media and the President reaffirm the community's belief that the police force is some vigilante death squad that needs to be met with resistance. Refusing to place any of the blame on the individual who just robbed a convenience store, or the kid who sucker punched and ground pounded a man for following him, etc. is not going to fix anything. In fact, all it does is increase tension, which puts cops more on edge, more in fear for their life, and more likely to pull the trigger if a situation warrants it. Or worse, afraid to do their job because of the fear of being railroaded by the media, in which case they are hesitant to use force, and likely to get themselves or their partners killed.

Now yes, I do understand that there are those withing the BLM movement that just want to see productive change. However, I also see that there are those in the BLM movement who want to create a war on cops. I would venture to guess the ratio of bad cops to good cops, is far smaller than BLM's violent members vs. productive members.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 3:47 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 15:47:08 -0500

BLM? Hijacked, just like the occupy movement by socialist engineers. That being said, it's disingenuous to say "most rightwing media" when the only conservative media outlet on national/cable television is Fox, unlike the leftwing; ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, PBS, et. al.

What I hear the good captain saying is with Fox gone, everything would be right in the liberal world. You either think like him or there is something wrong with you. He doesn't accept descent, he wants compliance.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 3 at 2015 3:55 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 15:55:43 -0500

I'm going to submit this pic not because of the ignorance in it, but the double standard it presents. Two gentleman rightfully open carrying in Home Depot. Magazines in the weapons, hand on the pistol grip, maybe one in the chamber. Now change the color of skin and put this Hope Depot in the Boogie Down, DC, H-town, Cinncy, Oakland, ATL, and they'd be on the ground weapons drawn on them for exercising their right to carry. Had these two been in Ferguson during the riots, they'd stand a very good chance of being dead. For exercising the SAME rights as others. But the Oath Keepers were in Ferguson and no one batted an eye. They were there to protect....who from whom? What from what? Clive Bundy was a Fox darling of standing up against an overreaching government. Couldn't go a day without a soundbite from him about how the government was doing him and others like him wrong. Now when the federal law enforcement shows up after being told what to do, Bundy supporters are shown in "sniper" positions drawing down on Federal cops (agency immaterial being they still were cops). How in the hell is one allowed and shown on lamestream media and get a "pass", but again do that same act to your local cop, and you're rightfully dead as a doorknob. Laws are "supposed" to regulate everyone regardless of cast, color, creed. But they're subjectively enforced, and depending on area, Beverly Hills vs local trailer park or ghetto, and you'll see a completely different style of treatment. Cops are not judge jury and executioner even though there is that 1% who think they are, and they're justified no matter what wrong they do. They no more represent the 99% of great cops anymore than one black man represents the whole. Too many damn fine hardworking police officers who don't make the news, the way many minorities who do awesome things for their communities aren't posted on the same news stations. Media also uses false feelings to invoke a desired and intended response from the viewers that it actually succeeds in doing. You don't have to look far, and it goes beyond white is right, and any other color is wrong. Lamestream media is about money, and we are the capitol bargained to get it. Use stats in a manner to make your argument, and you could have black against black, white against white etc. The moral of this is we're not talking, but allowing the media to be "our" voices and our reasoning. It seems to be like too much work for me to talk to someone and try to get them to see my side of the coin as I see theirs, and in some ways vice versa. The media doesn't want US to be intelligent and able to think for ourselves...heaven forbid everyone agrees on something and it's counter to what they plaster on the tune everyday. And for anyone to think Michael Brown was the catalyst for BLM, you're mistaken. He was just another body on a stack of others that brought things to an ugly head.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 4:36 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:36:45 -0500

I consider myself a conservative. That being said, the great thing about this country is you get to assemble and talk about whatever you want to as long as it doesn't provoke or cause damage. I use the term damage losely. I think that the BLM has a legitimate gripe. That being said, I think there are radical groups that have either attached themselves inside of this movement or have hidden themselves in the fringes of it. Just like the Anarchists within the May Day riots in Seattle. White people have shown that they are very capable of causing all sorts of public damage for no good reason. There's no racial monopoly on the use of a peaceful protest to nefarious purposes. Fortunately, even if there are bad parts within the BLM, they are allowed to say what they want in order to attempt to change what they perceive as a gap in equality. Of course the media has bias. That's a no brainer. What fueled BLM? The media and increased awareness in a global population of the (relatively few) transgressions of authorities. I believe ALM is a better statement to make. But...I'm a 42 year old white guy.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 6:20 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 18:20:37 -0500

what fueled black lives matter was a mixture of this generations sense of entitlement, and last generations fear of the police and authority. really that is it. the newer generation wants to do whatever they please and that last generation still feels like the world is against them. as a young black male I can say that at no time have I been oppressed except where I held myself back. if I got a bad grade in school it was my grade because I didn't do my homework. conversely I also was not held back from getting awards and other positive citations in school. the entire backing of the black lives matter movement is based on a false narrative that young black Americans are being unfairly held back by the "WHITE MAN" when in truth that rarely happens (I will say that once in a blue moon it would).
Black live matter is just another excuse for people to stay living in a lazy lifestyle with no respect for authority and get away with it. when I go back to my home in L.A. I always see the demographics of the black people who agree with it and don't. Most of the black families where they have a parent with a job and not being supported by welfare will say that black live matter is a joke. while the one with no jobs and living off of welfare say it is a step in the right direction. the only thing is that when asked the ones with no jobs also say it is the governments duty to supply them with a livelihood. (end rant)

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Nov 3 at 2015 7:36 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:36:32 -0500

Racism and ignorance are a pretty volatile combination -- especially when you combine it with aggression born out of a sense of entitlement and frustration. That tends to happen in cultures with a broke down family structure that are heavily dependent on others (read: 'big gubment') to support them and that esteem prison culture and vice instead of virtue.

ALL lives matter. Imagine that!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Nov 3 at 2015 11:47 PM

LTC John Shaw — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:47:08 -0500

We should expect all people to work together to minimize needless suffering and violence.
BLM is a legitimate movement started for good reasons. The police who overstepped the boundaries of their duties deserve to be prosecuted. There are a number of events that have been highlighted that make the point in this video.
BLM pushed too far, when at BLM rallies call for violence and call for the death of ALL police officers. The BLM leadership needs to publicly DENOUNCE these statements.
I am very disturbed by some members of BLM when any statements that does not line up with the liberal orthodoxy is immediately attacked by other members of the left. Democratic candidates can't even say 'all lives matter', it shows you, the left/BLM is intolerant of any view not in line with the media matters message.
I hope that BLM keeps in mind the SPLC definition for hate groups and never moves from beliefs to practice when it comes to harming police officers or citizens who disagree with their view.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) defines hate groups, hate groups as those that "... have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics."

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Nov 12 at 2015 2:21 PM

1LT Aaron Barr — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:21:25 -0500

I think there were several root causes. First, the prevailing narrative that this, a majority-white nation that elected a black man to the highest and most powerful office it has, is racist. Second, the fact that the media runs with this narrative with almost no verification of the facts. Third, the fact that so many democrats have mastered the art of pandering and dividing along racial lines.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Nov 27 at 2015 12:40 AM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 00:40:40 -0500

When people get organized and share ideas, exchange thoughts and come together to exercise their rights and speak as one voice the powers that be get very, very scared. One thing that will never change in America is that the people have all the power. We are the voters, the consumers, the workers. Our choice, our purchases and our labor is our power. The sad fact is that special interest groups pay a great deal money marketing crap we can't afford so we get into unsurmountable debt and have to stay at jobs we don't like that pay us slave wages so we become too busy, exhausted and demoralized to care about choices. This system of economic oppression is threatened by groups of informed citizens so every effort is made to discredit them...for the truth, we only need to look at history.

http://fusion.net/story/173048/black-lives-matter-monitored-department-homeland-security/

We should as collective citizens always support our truth tellers even if that truth is not convenient, even that truth is threatens our belife systems and makes us question our morals and values.

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

Why the government's monitoring of the Black Lives Matter movement should come as no surprise

The Department of Homeland Security has been closely monitoring the activities of the Black Lives Matter movement—news that should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the U.S. government’s history of spying on civil rights groups and other activist collectives.

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 30 at 2015 4:15 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 16:15:43 -0500

Victim mentality causing millennial meltdown. The problem with living life through the lens of a victim is that you will forever be the biggest obstacle to your own success. You will attract negativity to your life by surrounding yourself with those who share similar beliefs and views on the world. Thus being the gravity of all that you despise. Life is unfair, but this isn’t an excuse to feign helplessness and hold up the victim card at every opportunity. Shit happens - move forward as to not stagnate in the pestilence of self-entitlement and reproach.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 27 at 2016 2:04 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:04:35 -0400

I'm sure I'll take heat for responding as well as the content of my response, but that's okay. I'm a big boy. I can take it...

What fueled the rise of BLM is the same thing that fueled the rise of ISIS. A person, actually. President Obama. President Clinton bombed a baby formula factory in a vain attempt to divert attention when he was caught philandering in the White House with a young intern. Faced with a similar dilemma (several actually) as when President Obama withdrew American forces (by walking away from negotiations for a Status of Forces agreement with Iraq). Then when the results blew up in his face, he looked for other diversions. Jumping into every racially charged fray on the side of blacks (regardless of their guilt/innocence/culpability) created the diversion he needed. Not only has BLM served as a smokescreen for lots of issues besides the rise of ISIS. It also helped divert attention from the failure of Obamacare (I bet he wishes now he hadn't allowed the press to dub it that). The usual suspects (Sharpton and Jackson) jumped on the bandwagon for their own purposes (make money) and BLM became the issue of the day overshadowing so many others.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Oct 5 at 2016 6:19 AM

SPC Kevin Ford — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 06:19:39 -0400

What do I think fueled BLM? Quite frankly the fact that we now all carry a personal recording device everywhere we go combined with a way to easily distribute those recordings nationally. I doubt anything changed is the last few years in police interactions other than people who don't normally see such interactions now get a chance to look at what they are like. Video tends to bring to an end the automatic benefit of the doubt that had been afforded to law enforcement.

I don't have a problem with law enforcement but we need to hold them to a high standard. The system relies on mutual trust. On the other hand I am baffeled that BLM sometimes latches on to the questionable cases instead of the ones where there is clearly police misconduct. That tends to hurt their credibility.

Response by SrA James Cannon made Feb 3 at 2017 2:10 PM

SrA James Cannon — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 14:10:34 -0500

I see BLM as a domestic terrorist group, nothing less.

Response by LCpl Steve Zupan made Apr 12 at 2021 11:02 PM

LCpl Steve Zupan — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 23:02:42 -0400

Why should only black lives matter... Racist and gay AF.