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Black Lives Matter was created as a hashtag on July 13, 2013, but became a global movement.

George Zimmerman was acquitted of the killing of Trayvon Martin on July 13, 2013. It was then that Black Lives Matter first became a hashtagwhich lead to the creation of a network co-founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Opal Tometithat since has expanded into a global movement dedicated to the liberation of all black people. Four years after its inception, the network is examining its progress and looking toward the future.

In a newreportfirst shared withMicon Thursday, theBLMnetwork, which consists of more than 40 local chapters in the United States, Canada and the U.K., takes stock of its work at the grassroots level. The reports release comes as, in recent weeks,questionshave been raised about the movements strength and visibility in an increasingly tumultuous national political climate.

For the entirety of their four years of existence, naysayers outside of the BLM movement have critiqued its structure and focus. But the groups purpose goes well beyond blocking traffic and protesting police brutality.Thisreport clearly lays out the networksguiding principles, reasons for organizing, victories and interventions and intentions for expanding its scope. Among some of its importantvictories:raising over $500,000 to bailblack mothers out of jail for Mothers Day, police precinct occupations, trips to Standing Rock in North Dakota to support Indigenous activists.

Its clear that while the movement may sometimes be messy (as all social movements are) and that its stakeholdersmay not always be in agreement, they are about direct action and making strides toward social change.

For example, the success of the New York City chaptersSwipe It Forward campaign, which calls attention to the criminalization of poverty through fare-beating arrests on the subway system, came together through partnership with other Movement for Black Lives groups that shared the chapters vision. Organizers are not always in agreement, but the mission of saving black lives is as critical as its ever been, Shanelle Matthews, the director of communications for the BLM network, said in a statement.

As Black Lives Matter moves from its infancy to maturity, it will have to shift to meet the current moment. This political climate is unlikeany other weve seen in recent decades.Under Donald Trump racial injustice is poised to get worseand black people areunder attack in every way by conservatives and Trump sycophantsfor vocally asserting their right to live in a world free of white supremacy. It is critically important for the movement to do what its doing and continue totake stock of its purpose, where it has been and where its going. As people are energized more to mobilize locally to resist this administration, Black Lives Matter is an important player in helping people to build power, organize and work for change.

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Black Lives Matter takes stock of its progress as the movement turns four years old - Daily Kos