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In the aftermath of police killings of two black menAlton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, MinnesotaBlack Lives Matter (BLM)-led protests have sprung up in cities all over the country. While their grievances are clear and compelling, their methods of achieving redress are questionable and may hurt the movements long-term goals.

BLM may intend to do the right thing: enlighten the public about injustices within the black community, especially at the hands of law enforcement.

After the news of Castile and Sterlings deaths hit the nation, BLM held a protest in Dallas, Texas. Although that protest started out peacefully, it ended in bloodshed when a gunman who had a vendetta against white cops murdered five and injured several other on-duty officers.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blamed BLM: I do blame people on social media, with their hatred toward police. I do blame former Black Lives Matter protests last night was peaceful, but others have not been this has to stop.

The events in Dallas have set off a firestorm of protests, demonstrating just how livid and unruly the movement has become. Instead of protesting peacefully nationwide and despite condemning the Dallas shooting, BLM is doubling down in its protests, often violently. They shut down an interstate and major thoroughfare in Miami. In Oakland, protestors vandalized a police station with red paint and spray-painted streets, also stopping traffic on an interstate, during which protesters climbed atop a stalled semitrailer. Others lit a bonfire on the freeway.

Even widely viewed photos such as this one hide this aspect of violence, as the woman looks peaceful yet is being removed from a roadway she refused to exit of her own volition in an attempt to keep disrupting traffic.

Police pulled Castile and his girlfriend over because he matched the description of an armed robbery suspect (at first media reported it was only for a minor traffic violation). Its also reported he had a license to carry a firearm. It now appears as though those two pieces of information combined to aggravate an under-trained or trigger-happy officer, as the cop shot Castile four times and he died following the incident. Castiles girlfriend shot this video live to Facebook, which went viral, fueling BLM to organize an impromptu protest on the streets of the Twin Cities Saturday night.

BLM shut down part of Interstate 94, a major highway in St. Paul, and although it appears to have begun peacefully, some people started throwing water bottles, pieces of concrete, rebar, brick, Molotov cocktails, and rocks at police. At 3:27 in this video you can see a person throwing a small firecracker towards the police. To break up the crowd and push them off the highway, police responded with flash/bang grenades. About 100 protesters were arrested and more than 20 cops were hurt, one with a spinal fracture.

Few people are likely to be sympathetic to Black Lives Matter when they protest police by throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at them, spurring multiple arrests, then demand to be released.

Following Sterlings death on Saturday, caught on video here, BLM protested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he lived. BLM activist DeRay McKesson tweeted, just before he was arrested, that police were provoking them for no reason. But when you watch the clip, the police are walking alongside or escorting the protestors, and the protestors are the ones making snarky insults.

When a few hundred people attempted to close off a Louisiana interstate, police headed them off and arrested between 30 and 40.

BLM may wish to be peaceful, well-meaning, strategic, and persuasive, and these violent and disruptive behaviors are the actions of a relative few. Yet when the few are attacking police officers, its hard to overlook. As Barbara Reynolds, a minister and 1960s activist, wrote last year of the current movement:

Many in my crowd admire the cause and courage of these young activists but fundamentally disagree with their approach. Trained in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr., we were nonviolent activists who won hearts by conveying respectability and changed laws by delivering a message of love and unity. BLM seems intent on rejecting our proven methods[A]t protests today, it is difficult to distinguish legitimate activists from the mob actors who burn and loot. The demonstrations are peppered with hate speech, profanity, and guys with sagging pants that show their underwear. Even if the BLM activists arent the ones participating in the boorish language and dress, neither are they condemning it.

The BLM movement, unlike Kings, only seem to come out in droves following very specific murders: when white cops kill black people. Yet this is not the major scourge of the black community. Recounting his days as mayor of New York City, when crime was reduced by over 50 percent, Rudy Giuliani noted on Fox News,

Black Lives Matter hasnt saved nearly as many black lives, if theyve saved any at all, as I have. Where are they? Where are Black Lives Matter when six kids get shot in Chicago by other black kids? The reality is were going to end this issue when we get control of the significant amount of violence in urban America within the black community. And its the police who are doing that. Black Lives Matter divides us.

Given the videos of the killings of Castile and Sterling last week, it seems clear BLM has legitimate grievances. But if they want to be heard and remembered as a movement that changed racial unrest in America, in line with the success of the 1960s civil rights movement, they must do so without provoking police or inciting violence. Until they can figure out how to do this, their actions will continue to besmirch their reputation and cause.

Continue reading here:
Black Lives Matter's Violence Undermines Its Credibility

Black Lives Matter and a coalition of other community groups have won a seat at the table as the city of Chicago and the state attorney general's office hash out a consent decree that would guide reforms to the troubled Chicago Police Department.

The agreement comes on the heels of three lawsuits filed last year against the city, urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to allow a federal judge to oversee an overhaul of the Police Department in the wake of a U.S. Department of Justice report that found the department was deficient in training and supervision and prone to excessive force, especially against minorities.

Word of the agreement came Tuesday evening as news organizations devoted their resources to covering the primary election certain to dominate headlines.

The community groups, a coalition of legal firms and the ACLU of Illinois all plaintiffs in the pending federal lawsuits hailed the 10-page agreement, filed in federal court, as a major step in the fight for federal oversight of the Police Department.

The agreement will give a prominent role to community groups that have been staunchly critical of police and the citys oversight and discipline of officers. If precedent holds, Tuesday nights news will not sit well with police union leaders, who have complained that officers are unfairly portrayed as prone to misconduct.

Under the agreement, the community groups can provide input as the city and the attorney generals office continue to negotiate the terms of the consent decree. And once the decree is in place, they can object if it is inadequate or push for enforcement if the Police Department fails to follow through on its commitments.

Following the appointment of an independent monitor overseen by a federal judge, the community groups have been promised quarterly meetings with the monitor outside the presence of city and state officials to discuss the citys compliance with the consent decree, according to the agreement.

Its really setting up the community groups as watchdogs that will have a role to make sure that reform really continues no matter what happens as politicians come and go, Kathy Hunt Muse, an ACLU staff attorney, told the Tribune. The city and the attorney general still need to do the hard work here of hammering out the terms of the consent decree, and we really hope that now that weve defined this role for involving the community that theyre going to move quickly to draft that consent decree.

The agreement reaffirms our commitment to a transparent process and (supports) our promise that the public will have opportunities to provide input as we take this next step on Chicago's road to reform, Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Law Department, said in a statement.

In a statement, the head of the Chicago Police Departments largest union expressed his concern about the agreement.

The city of Chicago should be careful where they go with a consent decree, said Kevin Graham, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police. Without the support of the rank and file Chicago Police Officers, their move today will go nowhere. Anyone who thinks it will is sadly mistaken. As I have said before, we will never give up our collective bargaining rights.

Under the terms of the agreement, the community groups have 60 days to propose what they think should be part of the consent decree.

An important step in achieving reform is ensuring that communities that have been particularly impacted are engaged in this process, a spokeswoman for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a statement. The agreement ensures that community groups have a clear process to provide their input on the consent decree and enforce its terms.

The community groups agreed to put a hold on their lawsuits for now but could move to revive them if the consent decree hasnt been filed in federal court before Sept. 1.

The ACLUs lawsuit in October alleged that Chicago's police reform efforts have neglected how officers are trained to handle people with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities. The suit sought a permanent injunction to block the city from continuing what it calls its current practices "of using unlawful force against black and Latino people and individuals with disabilities."

Earlier in 2017, two separate lawsuits were filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and about 15 civil rights lawyers from Chicago and New York representing African-American plaintiffs who allege they were victims of excessive force and other abuses by Chicago police. That suit, which includes community groups such as Black Lives Matter, was filed days after Emanuel backed away from his pledge to sign a consent decree.

The Justice Department report, made public in January 2017, was prompted by the court-ordered release in November 2015 of video showing Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times a year earlier. The video sparked widespread protests, the firing of Chicago's police superintendent and calls for widespread reforms. Van Dyke is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges.

After the Justice Department released its findings early last year, Emanuel signed an agreement with then-President Barack Obama's attorney general to enter a consent decree in which a federal judge would enforce reforms. By May, however, Emanuel was trying to reach an out-of-court agreement with President Donald Trump's administration, which had signaled its opposition to court oversight of police departments. Emanuel argued that an out-of-court deal would get the same results as a consent decree.

City attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuits, arguing the plaintiffs' claims were moot because the Emanuel administration already had instituted police reforms recommended by the Justice Department and the mayoral-appointed Police Accountability Task Force a year earlier. Then, shortly after the city's lawyers sought that dismissal, Madigan filed her lawsuit in late August seeking to force judicial oversight. With Emanuel appearing with Madigan at a news conference announcing the litigation, the two described the effort as a "partnership."

Chicago Tribunes Dan Hinkel contributed.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

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Black Lives Matter, other community groups win seat at ...

Guidelines for Teachers Engaging in Black Lives Matter at SchoolCreated by World of Inquiry Student Council Crew

Basic Understandings:

Ideas for Lessons

Movie excerpts from:

Ideas for Readings

Ideas for People to study

Ideas for topics of discussion

T-Shirt orders will be open until Friday February 9th.

Order Your Shirt Here: http://www.positiveprintz.com/blmatschool.php

We have designed this initiative toallow educators and students to participate, if they choose to, in a way that works best for them. There are many ways for everyone to engage and our ideas can be found on our how to participatepage.

How to Participate

We suggest the you, your colleagues and your classes begin with the following lesson from the Morningside Center as a way to understand the origins and principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

BLM Lesson Series Part 1: An Introduction

You can also find many other resources for self study, lesson planning and professional development on our page of resources.

Resources

We would like to know how you, or your school, plans to participate. Please complete this form so we can get an idea of what understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter at School looks like in our community. We will share, with your permission what you have planned, with others to inspire and motivate.

All school communities in the Greater Rochester area are encouraged to participate in a day of understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter on February 16th, 2018. Last years initiative was an important catalyst that has lead to real change and we hope to expand the impact of this initiative in 2018.

It is understood that every community is at a different place in this journey and that there will be a different path for each and every school but we believe that schools are a place to practice equity and the active engagement of teachers and students in building understanding and affirming that Black lives matter will lead to sustainable progress towards freedom and justice for all people. We have designed things in a way that allows us all to share a vision and leadership, it is up to you how you engage in this initiative but we suggest you begin by educating yourself and enlisting collaborators.

Please reach out if you need support, want to share your plans or have resources that will help. We especially want to hear how last years event has lead to growth or change within your school community.

Articles and Media About Last Years Initiative

Additional Resources

The Black Lives Matter at School Reflection and Action Planning event has been rescheduled for April 29th from 9-12 at World of Inquiry School #58.

Please attend if you would like to share your experience, hear the experiences of others and want to add your ideas as we discuss what needs to happen next.

Pleaseregister with this form: Registration Form

Please share your experiences and reflections here: Feedback on Black Lives Matter@School

Program:9:00 9:15 Registration / Breakfast9:15 10:15 Reflection Circles(sharing experiences from February 17th, and identifying needs moving forward)10:15 11:15 Plenary Sessions:11:15 11:50 Next Steps: What work needs to be done? What are we missing? How do we keep moving forward?11:50 12:00 Closing

In order to capture the wide range of experiences behind the many events that took place across the Rochester Community on February 17th, 2017, we are offering an opportunity for structured conversation and collaborative reflection as a means of synthesizing experiences and making plans for future work in regards to Black Lives Matter at School.

To everyone who participated in BLM@school or wished they had or wants to in the future this space is for you to debrief, celebrate and conspire for sustaining the movement.

WHAT: An opportunity for structured conversation and collaborative reflection as a means of synthesizing experiences and making plans for future work in regards to Black Lives Matter at SchoolWHERE: World of Inquiry School, 200 University Ave.WHEN: Saturday, March 11, 9:00am 12:00pmWHY: To capture and build on the wide range of experiences that took place across RCSD on February 17th

*** IMPORTANT***Please use this form to register for the Black Lives Matter at School Reflection and Action Planning Session:

This event is open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there. Please be sure to register ahead of time so we can order refreshments.

Parking available in the school lot on Scio Street. Additional parking is available in the Downstairs Cabaret parking lot on the corner of University Ave. and Scio St.

Please send any questions to blacklivesmatteratschool@gmail.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join us on February 17th, 2017 in Rochester, NY and around Monroe County for a day of understanding and affirmation of Black lives in our schools. This day and event is made possible by the collaboration of educators, parents, community members, and BLM local activists.

About This Event

Relationships begin with taking time to ask questions and listen to the stories others have to tell. We, as Americans, are grappling with the past, present and future status of Black lives in our nation and every member of our community has an obligation to understand how and why Black lives matter. We must have the courage to affirm that Black lives matter in all of our lives. This day of action has been organized by a group of educators and parents to be a starting point for some, a path to restoration for others and spark to action for all.

Mission

Schools are a place to practice equity and the active engagement of teachers and students in building understanding and affirming that Black lives matter will lead to sustainable progress towards freedom and justice for all people.

Vision

Diverse community partners will come together to create a day of education, dialogue and action that will actively engage a significant number of educational communities throughout Monroe County in activities that support understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter.

Please feel free to contact us via email blacklivesmatteratschool@gmail.com or visit our website at http://www.blacklivesmatteratschool.org.

Contact Information:

Black Lives Matter at School

blacklivesmatteratschools@gmail.com

GREAT NEWS ABOUT BLM@SCHOOL T-SHIRTS!!

Thanks to our WONDERFUL partners at Positive Printz, the deadline to order has been extended!!!

You now have until MIDNIGHT on SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4th to get your order in for the official Black Lives Matter at School t-shirt!

HOWEVER please note!!! All shirts that are ordered after midnight tonight will be delivered to Rochester City School District Central Office! Members of our organizing team will be coordinating with customers to arrange distribution of the shirts.

All orders placed after midnight Feb 2 until the new deadline (midnight Feb 4th) will be delivered to Central Office and distribution will be handled by our team and they will be in contact with you. Shirts will be delivered to Central Office around 2/14.

Customers who have already placed their orders will begin receiving their shirts by mail this weekend.

So you still have a chance to get your t-shirts!! Thank you to Positive Printz for working with us and helping us to fulfill our commitment to the BLM@School community!

This afternoonwe facilitated our second professional learning workshop related to Black Lives Matter at School.The materials below are for educators that have participated in these workshops or would like to learn more on their own.

A Day of Understanding to Affirm Black Lives Matter in Schools

Learning Targets:

Introduction

Teaching Tolerance: Lets Talk about Black Lives Matter Webinar

Discussion

Action Planning Template

Additional Resources

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Black Lives Matter At School | A Day to Understand and ...

The Black Lives Matter movement slammed the National Rifle Association on Friday after the group filed a lawsuit against the Florida legislation that would raise the age to buy rifles to 21.

The civil rights organization retweeted the Associated Press and called the NRA a terrorist organization.

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The NRAs decision to file the lawsuit comes after Florida Governor Rick Scott signed off on the Senate Bill 7026 in the wake of the Parkland school shooting when a 19-year-old entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 rifle and killed 17 people.

"This bill punishes law-abiding gun owners for the criminal acts of a deranged individual," executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Chris W. Cox said. "Securing our schools and protecting the constitutional rights of Americans are not mutually exclusive."

The NRA and the Black Lives Matter organization have never seen eye to eye, and have attacked one anothers organizations before.

Black Lives Matter activists responded to an NRA video that was aired in 2017 featuring images and videos of protesters in Baltimore over the in-custody death of Freddie Gray. The civil rights chapter from Los Angeles fired back with their own video, mocking the NRAs advertisement by copying their ominous music and lighting.

When the NRA issues a public call to their constituents, inciting violence against people who are constitutionally fighting for their lives, we dont take that lightly, says BLM LA member Funmilola Fagbamila in the response video.

BLM activists also slammed the NRA for not responding to the death of Philando Castile, a black gun owner, who was shot on July 6, 2016, in St. Anthony Minnesota after Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot him. The association eventually commented on Castiles death a few days later on CNN.

I think its absolutely awful. I dont agree with every single decision that comes out from courtrooms of America. There are a lot of variables in this particular case, and there were a lot of things that I wish would have been done differently, said NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch said of Castiles shooting. Do I believe that Philando Castile deserved to lose his life over a (traffic) stop? I absolutely do not.

A year later, Loesch argued on Twitter that Castile was not legally carrying his handgun when he was shot because he had marijuana in his possession.

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Black Lives Matter Calls the NRA a 'Terrorist Organization ...

BLM DC is a radical collective of Black artists, infrastructure builders and movement healers and strategists from the future, organizing in the here and now around two movement equations. These equations inform how we live as our highest selves while dismantling White Supremacy, Patriarchy, Capitalism, Imperialism and the role the state plays in supporting them.

The first is BLM DC believes Organized Resistance + Continual Healing + Consistent Spaces for Centering Black Joy = Liberation. This means we believe that we can be liberated right now through centering healing and joy in our daily lives. We also think there are obstacles like state sanctioned violence that limit our ability to live as the liberated people we are capable of being and thus organized resistance is necessary. The other side of this equation is one we have borrowed from the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, it helps us frame the way we integrate healing with organized resistance. It is a similar equation of Building + Blocking + Being. Our organized resistance BUILDS campaigns to dismantle systems of oppression while BUILDING liberated spaces, our healing spaces BLOCK oppressive beliefs and racial trauma while BUILDING resilience, our centering of Black Joy reminds of why we fight and lets us BE resilient and free together thereby making us stronger BUILDERS.

BLM Programs that Build: M4BL DC Steering Committee, Black Organizer Dinners, Emotional Emancipation Circles, #KeepDC4ME, Black Joy Sunday, Re-Envisioning Masculinity Workshops

BLM Programs that Block: direct actions [occupations, highway shut downs, disruptions, blockades etc], Non-Profit Accountability Campaigns, Weeks of Action.

BLM Programs that Sustain and Elevate our BE: Emotional Emancipation Circles, Men of Color Consciousness Building Groups, Black Joy Sunday, Black Organizer Dinners, visioning sessions, Well Examined Life analysis building.

Contact us blacklivesmatterdmv@gmail.com

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Black Lives Matter DMV | A collective of Black Lives ...