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DeKALB Students gathered Tuesday for the beginning of the second Black Lives Matter week at NIU, organized by the Black Student Unions civil disobedience committee.

The first Black Lives Matter week happened last semester during the week of Oct. 11. The BSU drew in chalk on sidewalks around campus and organized peaceful protests in order to raise awareness of police brutality.

This semesters event had a similar message and used previous techniques of peaceful protest and chalking. In addition to addressing police brutality, demonstrators addressed other issues of racism on campus and in general.

Freshman psychology major Alyson Godbolt became a part of the Black Lives Matter movement at NIU last semester during the first Black Lives Matter week. She said when they organize these demonstrations, they discuss issues they notice on campus and all over the country in order to decide how they want to protest.

We find demonstrations that will raise awareness, that will start conversation on race equality and the mistreatment of black people in America, Godbolt said.

Friday, the BSU put an announcement on Twitter from the civil disobedience committee that the second Black Lives Matter week would happen Tuesday through Thursday.

Participants met Tuesday morning in Neptune Central to organize before they walked outside to begin the demonstration.

Signs were passed out for demonstrators to wear around their necks, which had statements such as, Give me justice or give me nothing, No more racism and No justice, no peace written across them.

At noon, demonstrators walked outside to the brick circle on the ground near the east side of the Founders Memorial Library. The students stood in a circle in this area to participate in the demonstration, which included chanting, singing and demonstrators speaking.

Darius Parker, senior journalism major and director of civil disobedience for the BSU, read off 30 names of individuals who have died at the hands of police. Names on the list included Michael Brown, Laquan McDonald and Philando Castile.

While Parker read the names, he asked demonstrators to raise their fists in the air and observe a moment of silence in memory of those who have died.

At the conclusion of the protest, Parker asked people to join him in taking a vow of silence for the rest of the day in remembrance of those who lost their lives. Demonstrators who wished to participate in this vow received a piece of tape to wear over their mouths.

Other passers-by stopped to observe the demonstration.

Freshman psychology major Rasean Mitchell was with freshman marketing major Kyle Reynolds at a de-stressing event at Cole Hall when he heard the group chanting, so the two walked over to observe.

Mitchell hadnt seen the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last semester except for the chalking around campus. He said he supports the movement and thinks its good for people to fight for what they believe in.

Im not really a big fan of the, you know, the chanting and shouting and stuff, but I think its right to bring attention to everybody else about whats going on, Mitchell said.

Reynolds said he felt the demonstration and the Black Lives Matter movement shouldnt only acknowledge one race.

I dont not support it, but I understand it. Reynolds said. And I believe that, in my opinion, all lives matter, and we shouldnt be sticking [to or] singling [out] one race. I mean, its a good thing that they all come together, but Should you single out one race? is the question we should be asking.

Passers-by had various reactions to the demonstration. Some of those who passed by expressed their dislike of the demonstration. One instance happened while the group was still in Neptune Central.

We literally just had an incident inside of Neptune Central, Parker said to the crowd once outside. This is probably the most non-violent demonstration weve ever done, and the fact that he was upset that we are united as people of color and black students is a problem. Especially on this campus.

When another passer-by lashed out, Parker calmed the crowds reaction and reminded them to be mindful of what you give your energy to.

Godbolt said that this hate is nothing new. When people express hate, the group tries to keep in mind that it comes from a place of misunderstanding, but its still hurtful.

She said to help this lack of understanding, people should ask questions so they can learn about the movement.

If you dont understand us, if you dont understand why were so angry, if you have questions, if youre not understanding anything, come talk to one of us. Come to one of our demonstrations and come to us respectfully, please, Godbolt said. If you have a question about something, just ask, Hey, Im not quite understanding why this is this ... I dont want to upset you I just want to understand. I want to better understand. And if you dont want to understand, just dont talk.

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Black Lives Matter Week Two: BSU leads peaceful protest - Northern Star Online

Following a sold-out show in Vancouver last night (April 27), Grammy Awardwinning artist Solange Knowles took time to meet with members of Black Lives Matter (BLM) chapters from Vancouver and the U.S.

The Dont Touch My Hairsinger, whose most recent album, A Seat at the Table, explores themes of blackness, prejudice, and womanhood, posed with a group of local black activists after her show at Chinatowns Rennie Museum. The image was shared on Instagram by American actor Jesse Williams and prominent civil rights activist and BLM member DeRay Mckesson, both of whom were also in attendance.

Knowles presented Scales, a performance-art project examining protest as meditation through movement and experimentation of unique compositions and arrangements fromA Seat at the Table.Williams called the show phenomenal while Mckesson stated, She [Knowles] is truly incredible live.

After learning of Knowless surprise performances at the Chinatown gallerya venue owned by local real-estate magnate Bob RennieBLM Vancouver published a statement on its Facebook page, expressing concern over the artists choice to perform in an area that has undergone significant gentrification at the hands of developers and marketers. The collective also called for increased access to the shows for black folks, a group Knowless work speaks to specifically.

In addition, a petition was launched by local activist organization the Anti-Oppression Network, urging Knowles to cancel her shows.

Although the performances went on at the Rennie Museum as planned, BLM Vancouver shared yesterday (April 27) that Rennie had offered members of the citys black community complimentary tickets to Knowless shows. The group states that they, along with another local collective, Black in Vancouver, decided to distribute them to marginalized black youth, black musicians, black artists, and black organizers in the city.

We see this as a positive gesture and were happy wecan agree on one point: access for black folks to music written for us is crucial, BLM Vancouver wrote. We also recognize the importance of uplifting and centering black people. Solange is a powerful black voice and she needs to speak to a black community.

Knowles is performing two more shows at the Rennie Museum at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. today (April 28). Both performances are sold out with all ticket proceeds benefiting theAtira Womens Resource Society, a DTESbased nonprofit that provides safe housing and support for women and children affected by violence.

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Solange Knowles poses with Jesse Williams, Black Lives Matter activists after her first Vancouver show - Straight.com

Its been nearly a week since Milan Bolden-Morris had the interwebs buzzing after debuting her Black Lives Matter prom dress, which was designed by Terrence Torrence. Although the Florida native admits she was merely a vessel for this act of fashionable social activism, she is very concerned about the increasing acts of police brutality and the families of the victims. After recently celebrating her 18th birthday, Bolden-Harris was nice enough to speak with EBONY.com about her life post-prom dress, personal passions and future plans.

EBONY.com: Prom is a special event and rite of passage for teenage girls. What made you decide to make a political statement instead of taking the traditional glitz-and-glamour route?

Bolden-Morris: I was honestly just the model for the dress; it was all my designer, Terrence Torrences, idea. To convey the message, he asked if I wanted to help and, of course, I did; the purpose was never about me or how I looked. When someone loses a mother, father or child by unnecessary circumstances, it should not be overlooked. These issues should be handled.

EBONY.com: What were the reactions from some of your peers about the dress?

Bolden-Morris: For the most part, I got a lot of positive feedback. They were so supportive of me and my actions, and they acknowledged my bravery and the courage that was expressed through wearing the dress. They were also surprised that I was getting this much attention. Every time I was on a Instagram page of someone famous, they would let me know and be so excited for me. Especially when I was on the Buzzfeed Snapchat story.

EBONY.com: Although you plan to attend Boston College in the fall on a full-ride basketball scholarship, do you have any other passions youd like to explore in college?

Bolden-Morris: I do. I aspire to be an orthopedic surgeon. All my life, Ive been around sports, and to pursue a career that would allow me to still be involved with sports would be a dream for me. I love to help others, so I feel being a surgeon would allow me to do that and help find methods to help [patients] perform at their fullest potential with a faster recovery. I also hope to continue to inspire others and help them be courageous and strong in [their beliefs]. I believe God is using me for something bigger than me, so I pray that He continues to be with me.

EBONY.com: How has your life changed after the dress went viral? Has anyone reached out to you for any further opportunities for social change?

Bolden-Morris: My life essentially is the same, but I feel Ive definitely used the dress to inspire others and to not only touch the lives of the families who were affected but also anyone who has been subjected to feeling unwanted. God says to love, and that love conquers over all sin. So to show that peaceful measures should be taken over violence is primarily what I want to illuminate. Only Trayvon Martins mother, Mrs. Sybrina Fulton, has reached out to me [so far], and that was to help her with an event in May in Miami. I hope many more people will reach out; I want to continue emphasizing love and change the world socially because these issues are so important.

EBONY.com: Do you have any plans to use your clothing to raise awareness about police brutality?

Bolden-Morris: I would love to continue to convey messages of peace through clothing, not just in the Black community, but in general. Everyone needs to express love and be loved as God loves us, so whatever I can do to help bring awareness to these issues, Ill do. Also, whatever Terrence wants me to do, Ill do. Im his model, so whatever idea he has in mind, Im willing and honored to do. Hes honestly a genius when it comes to expressing ideas and making statements through fashion.

Teryn Payne is an Editorial Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief. Shes obsessed with lip gloss,nail polish and all things olive. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram@Teryn_Denice.

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Meet the Teen Who Rocked 'Black Lives Matter' Dress to Prom - EBONY.com

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A Q&A with Cazembe Murphy Jackson of BLM Atlanta

Cazembe Murphy Jackson, a Black Lives Matter organizer from Atlanta, Georgia, recently took his group's message of activism abroad to London. While there, he learned about some surprising parallels between organizing in the U.K. and in the U.S. as well as why some Londoners are using Donald Trump's presidency as a galvanizing force to get people out in the streets across the pond. MTV News writer Marcus Ellsworth spoke with Jackson about his trip, activism in London, and what building international solidarity means for black people.

Why was it important for an organizer out of Atlanta to go work with activists in London?

Cazembe Murphy Jackson: BLM is a global network. We are working with folks in different countries, and have been for a while, to help develop their own resistance against racism. It's really important for us to be able to understand how anti-blackness happens in different contexts and different places in the world so that we can actively build strategies to fight it in different places. The strategy can't be the same if the way that anti-blackness is experienced is not the same.

Black Lives Matter and the National Union of Students, which is the student union in London that brought me over there, have already been in a relationship for the past couple of years. [Both organizations have] had folks go over to London and they've also brought people from London to the States.

Before you went, did you have any expectations about what this journey might be like?

Jackson: The biggest thing that I thought would happen is that I wouldn't be understood or accepted fully as a trans man. Because the people who know me and love me would not be around me, I thought that I would have to face a lot of transphobia. It ended up not being true. I learned that even black people in different places in the world have this thing that bonds us together; we have such a similar experience. Even though the context of the way that racism works is different [in different countries], it still produces the same result in us, which allows us to be able to relate to other black people. Once we started talking to each other, it's like we'd all been friends our whole lives. And I found that you can definitely find community in other countries just as quickly as you can in the place [where] you're from.

What are some major concerns black organizers have in the U.K.?

Jackson: A recurring theme was that it's really hard for them to get a good turnout for their events unless they mention something about what's going on in the United States in their outreach. If someone died in police custody in the U.K., and [organizers] want to have a rally or an action to bring people out, they would also [reference] something that happened in the United States. The summit that I came over to speak at was called "Trump, Brexit, and Beyond" [even though] the summit was about the way that new acts of Islamophobia [are manifesting] against immigrants in the U.K. It could have just been [called] "Brexit and Beyond," but in order to get people in, they also had to talk about Trump.

Folks really want to be able to say, "Oh, Trump is a bad guy, but we're the U.K. and we're not like that." Everyone wants to talk about how bad Trump is, but the reality is that Trump and Theresa May are two peas in a pod. Now that the U.K. is out of the E.U., she's got to find other people to make trade partnerships with. It's a very important thing for folks in the U.K. to pay attention to Theresa May [in] the same way that they're paying attention to Trump.

There was a rally in front of Parliament when [members of Parliament] were voting on whether they were going to let E.U. immigrants stay in the U.K. That was a huge rally. It was an opportunity to push Parliament to make the right decision. But when [organizers of the rally] came out, they also had to talk about Trump and his Muslim ban in order to draw people out, and it wasn't even about that.

It reminds me of living in small [American] towns, even like Chattanooga. There are over 60 people who've been killed by police in the city of Chattanooga since the 1970s. But in order for us to get a big turnout to fight against police brutality and police murder, we had to talk about Trayvon Martin or Mike Brown. I don't know what the science is around what moves people to come out, but it does seem like there's something that has to do with what is popular in America in the larger context to bring people out in smaller and more distant places.

Are there other issues that BLM focuses on in the U.S. that you also saw reflected in the U.K.?

Jackson: I don't think that I did enough talking and digging to be able to accurately say all of the things that black folks are working on in the U.K. But a lot of black people I met who are organizing are also Muslim. They're also either immigrants to the U.K. or their parents are immigrants. That makes for a really great environment for international solidarity, because they actually have family in other countries. The immigration fight and the fight against Islamophobia is really big in [those] black communities, because they live at that intersection.

I think they do a lot of organizing around police brutality and murder in police custody. There's a group called United Families & Friends, a campaign that is led by friends and family of people who have died in police custody. They help others learn what the process is for trying to get justice for your family through the state. I thought it was interesting that while there have been over, I believe, 2,000 deaths in police custody in the U.K. [on record], no police officer has ever been convicted of any wrongdoing. The majority of police in the U.K. don't carry guns, so they don't have the police-murder epidemic the way we have it here. But the people who do die in police custody, a lot of them die from the use of the batons. So people are getting beat to death. In the U.S. it's still bad, but there have been some officers who have been convicted of some things.

Another thing that's different is that they skew the numbers [of] how many people are incarcerated. We often say the U.S. incarcerates black people so much that there's more black people in jail now than there were during slavery. We think of these really large numbers to show how disproportionate the amount of black people in jail in the U.S. is. That's skewed for the U.K. because half of the people are not in jail: They're being forced to stay in mental institutions and they treat them like they're in jail. You can be arrested and be forced to go. That's used for asylum seekers, immigrants, and folks who are citizens in the U.K. When you combine the numbers [of people in jails and mental institutions], it would put the U.K. closer to the U.S.

How can people in America find ways to stand in solidarity with black folks in other countries and the issues theyre organizing around?

Jackson: I think the simplest thing that can be done to start building international solidarity is to find out what's happening in other places. I think the way we are able to care about what's happening somewhere else is [by] actually reading about it. Then, after we learn about what's happening and its context, the next step is to talk about it. We use Facebook for a lot of stuff. We use Twitter and all of these other social media platforms to talk about important ideas and theories.

I think once we start understanding what is happening, and make sure that the people around [us] also know its important, then those who are able need to build relationships with people in other places. Of course, some of that is going to require travel. That can get tricky. It can get pricey and some folks will need passports.

I got my passport through a trans passport workshop. When I was asked to take a companion with me, I ended up taking my friend Prentis Hemphill because they have a passport and are the director of healing justice for BLM. No one [else in my Atlanta chapter] could go because they didn't have a passport. We need to have passport clinics, and not just for trans people, [but also] for young black people. Because black people need to be able to see other black people thriving and surviving in other places in the diaspora other than the U.S. They need to know how magical our people are everywhere, and to know that we are everywhere.

The way that you start knowing that is by going and seeing. One of the other things I thought when I found out I was going to London was, Yo, are there black people there? And there's SO many black people there. All different kinds of black people. When we can see people in different places and we understand the context [in which] they are actually living, then it makes it possible for us to build some kind of genuine solidarity based on a real relationship and a real understanding of each other's experiences. To be able to say that we're in solidarity with people around the world, I just think we have to go deeper.

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How One Black Lives Matter Activist Found Solidarity In The UK - MTV.com

Florida high school senior Milan Morris turned more than a few heads when photos of her prom dress hit social media over the weekend.

Why? The 17-year-olds gown was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and showed images of black people such as Michael Brown and Sandra Bland who were killed during encounters with police.

It really conveyed such a strong message, Morris told the Sun Sentinel after Fridays prom. For me to be in that moment, to be bold and courageous to do that, it was a blessing.

The front of Morris dress showed an image of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen who was fatally shot in 2012 during an altercation with neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman and Morris told the paper she spoke with Martins mother, Sybrina Fulton, who was touched by the gesture.

Morris posted a pair of photos of her dress on Instagram.

One was accompanied by the caption, Yes Im black. Yes Im 17. Yes GOD is using me to convey a message thats bigger than me.

Designer Terrence Torrence created the dress and told the Sun Sentinel he got the idea of a Black Lives Matter theme about a year ago. Torrence knows Morris family, and he told the paper that when he got together with her about a prom dress a few months ago, his idea came up.

She was like, Yo, lets do it, Torrence recalled to the Sun Sentinel, emphasizing that while his dress is Black Lives Matter-themed, it isnt an anti-police statement.

Its a tribute to that movement, but its All Lives Matter, because every creature, every person on this planet matters, he told the paper, adding that it was for the youth and that Morris was perfect for it.

As a star basketball player for Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, Morris is used to headlines. She was named the Palm Beach County girls basketball player of the year by the Sun Sentinel and his heading to Boston College to play basketball and study pre-med, the paper said, adding that she wants to become an orthopedic surgeon.

While Morris told the Sun Sentinel shes taken heat for the dress by those whove called her a racist and a spotlight grabber, she said she simply wanted to highlight Black Lives Matter.

It was just really to convey the message that this needs to be addressed instead of overlooked, she told the paper.

Originally posted here:
Black Lives Matter prom dress turning a lot of heads: 'God is using me to convey a message' - TheBlaze.com