The Black Lives Matter protests started three weeks ago when George Floyd was killed because of police brutality. However, the movement started back in 2012, when Trayvon Martin was killed by a neighbourhood watch guard while he was walking home unarmed. The neighbourhood guard was acquitted for all charges. The problem of systemic racism is deep-rooted in American culture and the Black Lives Matter movement has grown and become a major topic of discussion inacross the whole world over the last few weeks.
First of all, the movement is not just about police brutality. Black Lives Matter starts the conversation about all of the ways that the state intentionally disadvantages black people and deprives them of their human rights and dignity. It all started when cities ‘redlined’ certain neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods were inhabited by minorities who would often be black people. By redlining these parts of cities, certain services would systematically be denied, such as healthcare or insurance.
The protestprotests have had many effects on society in America. In many states chokeholds were banned from use by the police. Many states have also pledged to vote for defunding the police, or even disbanding itthem completely, and replacing itthem with trained professionals to respond to different situations. Lastly, the protests have caused police officers to be charged instead of acquitted. ButHowever, unfortunately there have also been riots and raids occurring as effects of the protests.
In conclusion, the Black Lives Matter protests, although they have only been going on for a few weeks, the Black Lives Matter protests have had an enormous impact on people around the world. In my opinion, the protests are the most effective method of causing change. It has proved to be necessary, because all those years of systematic oppression of black people have not causedmade any difference. But; but three weeks of people marching did.