Recently, the candidate I support for the 2016 election was disrupted by activists with #BLM, Black Lives Matter. I've read a few good diaries on Sanders' missed-speech in Seattle today, and if you want the details, you can go there:
KIRO-TV LIVESTREAM: Bernie Sanders' Keynote Speech SHUT DOWN by BLM in Seattle!, by Antitheist
Bernie Sanders Interrupted by Black Lives Matter - Again, by Le Champignon
I was not at the rally in Seattle, but I get the gist of what happened. Political allies of mine interrupted my preferred candidate, preventing him from making a speech. I see this as unfortunate. But my goal to day is not to talk about the specifics of Seattle, but add my own reaction to (hopefully) counter-balance what I see as a lot of harmful negative reactions by other Sanders supporters to Black Lives Matter. Most of these views I've seen expressed in comments, some by understandably frustrated Sanders supporters who are both upset that their evening plans were disrupted and worried for their candidate's political future.
Another diarist, ZiminSeattle, posted a short diary titled BLM just lost my support.
I have to respectfully disagree with ZiminSeattle. As Black Lives Matter says on their own website, #BLM is a movement, not a moment, and especially not one protest event. And as a movement, Black Lives Matter is incredibly important to America. As a liberal whose economic and social policies alike are rooted in the idea of opportunity for all, Black Lives Matter is a movement I can't help but support. Even if I dislike a moment, as in Seattle.
I have personally seen Black Lives Matter from a variety of perspectives. From the incredibly brave and gob-smackingly peaceful demonstrations on the streets of cities whose police forces have committed atrocities, to nasty attacks on an aunt of mine involved in the brutal Dillan Taylor killing in Utah. These attacks for my aunt adopting the saying All Lives Matter. My aunt is not unaware it is far more dangerous to be black in American than white, but as someone who has worked hard to bring justice to a brutal police murder, I saw how hard it hurt her to be attacked by her allies. Could she have been more aware of how the hashtag she used would be seen as hostile? Yes, but honestly, she was too busy fighting for justice.
Should Black Lives Matter be more aware of the support they have from Sanders (if not all of his supporters)? Yes, but honestly, I can see that these #BLM activists have been too busy fighting for justice.
Black Lives Matter is my ally. Whether or not they - in one particular moment - see those fighting for justice for Dillan Taylor or the Sanders campaign as their allies.
It's just too important for Black Lives Matter to succeed. I fear an America where their righteous cause is forgotten - especially by allies such as myself.
Yes, I think Black Lives Matter would be more successful with a Sanders administration in power. And yes I think they should be respectful of Bernie's history of Civil Rights support. And his recent history of Civil Rights support!
That recent history is important. Many white Americans marched with Dr. King. Many also decided, not too long after that, that the Civil Rights Era was "finished" and we were now in a post-racial America. They were wrong. But many such white Americans existed. So Black Lives Matter is right - Sanders marching with King is NOT and SHOULD NOT be enough to establish his civil rights credentials.
Of course, his opposition to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, his condemnation of the criminal justice system in this country, and his speeches on important topics of race in America (BEFORE the Netroots Nation #BLM protest) should be enough to establish his civil rights credentials.
But if those facts are not clear, front & center, with Black Lives Matter, we should not be surprised. I am not a Black Lives Matter activist, but I imagine they have too much to do to keep track of every movement of their allies as they struggle for freedom - for my freedom, as well as that of every American - under the weight of horrific oppression.
I'm rambling on a bit here. But I feel the need to speak, especially to my fellow Sanders supporters, and say "I doff my hat to Black Lives Matter, and their righteous cause," and hope more of my fellow Sanders supporters will also do so.
We must root for Black Lives Matter, as many other political allies, to succeed. And if those allies occasionally fail to notice you and give you a black eye with an errant elbow - they're still on the same team.
Sanders is wise enough - at least I hope he is :) - to realize that you don't attack your own allies. That politics is a messy game, even, at times, among friends. His supporters, in a frenzy to defend their candidate, should step back and realize this too.
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Edited for grammar & spelling mistakes.