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Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter

(346 Posts)
SueDonim Sun 07-Jun-20 18:15:16

There has been much talk about the slogan ‘Black Lives Matter‘ with many people saying instead that all lives matter. I think it’s a good topic for debate and to gain understanding.

To me, saying ‘all lives matter‘ is to deny that racism exists. It denies the experience of many black people who are not treated as white people would have been. Think of the man who achieved the highest office in America. Would anyone have raised the ‘birther’ question had Barack Obama been white? Saying all lives matter also closes down debate on the issue, suggesting that the very particular problems black communities experience are no different from that of anyone else therefore we shouldn’t talk or do anything about it.

The term ‘black lives matter‘ is not saying that only black lives matter. It means that black lives matter as much as other lives, whether that is in the undue violence meted out to the black community, the discrimination they face in healthcare , employment and housing and in many, many other ways.

I’ll put a link on the next post, explaining why saying all lives matter is wrong. If you only look at one item, please watch All Plates Matter. It sums it up in two minutes. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

growstuff Sat 13-Jun-20 15:45:37

To those defending the thugs in London today ...

Why exactly are they there? The statues have been protected. BLM doesn't have a huge presence.

A photographer had his nose broken by one of the thugs before it even started, they did Nazi salutes in front of the statue in front of the person who fought off fascism (think they might need a history lesson there) and now they're punching and fighting with the police. And they manage to do that holding a can of beer! Nice people!

They are there to be racist, fight, cause pointless aggravation, and be scummy, that's it!

Whitewave has no need to calm down. Maybe the people who think she should, endorse the kind of scummy behaviour we're seeing today.

EllanVannin Sat 13-Jun-20 15:21:37

Discussion going on about BAME doctors having been let down by lack of protective gear.

Well well, how many blacks are in the protests ? Aren't they supposed to be high-risk for the virus ? How utterly selfish !!

1 in 5 catch the virus in hospital. So if anyone has to visit hospital for an injury, it'll be no thanks to them if we have a second wave.

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 15:11:10

Tbh if the statue of Winston incurs such fury,then perhaps it would be better in a museum for its own safety. The plinth could be left though!!

Loislovesstewie Sat 13-Jun-20 15:01:55

Whitewavemark2, not every football fan is a fascist , in fact I would say from going to watch football many times over the years the vast majority of fans just want to watch football, not scrap or cause issues. As with everything , the headline
' People enjoy a peaceful game of football' grabs no headlines. ' Yobs pelt players' does.

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 14:51:27

Judging from the pictures, they have!!!

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:50:32

Apparently There is NO BLM protest today.

They knew what the far-right were up to and moved it to yesterday.

Those clashing with Police in and around Parliament, are doing so because they're bigoted, racist thugs, nothing else.

They've no counter protest to clash with.

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 14:50:31

Honestly WW2 you're beginning to sound a bit manic! I think you need a rest from all this excitement !
The Off Licences are open as are the Supermarkets, hope this answers your query!

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:47:26

I’m am talking about the fascists not the box around the statue.

Just look at these fascists. You know who these people are. You've seen them before. Outside clubs, and football grounds. You know what they really want. If you ally yourself to these people, then you need to take a really careful look at yourself in the mirror.

Smileless2012 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:44:50

Planning ahead so if anyone does turn up to deface it they wont be able too.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:40:57

To defend a statue of Churchill against people who don’t seem to be there and giving a Nazi salute whilst doing so shows a massive level of stupidity though.

Where did they get their alcohol? The pubs aren’t open are they?

Rosalyn69 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:35:45

Unpopular as it may be but once one group of people start to protest it generates a counter protest by another group. Like it or not, not everyone agrees with the BLM protests.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:34:57

Ian Dunt
@IanDunt
Don't bother expending any energy trying to understand those people in London right now. It's not complicated. They're thugs and white supremacists. It's as simple as that. And they should be treated accordingly.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:33:16

smileless ? um isn’t it self explanatory?

I certainly am not going to post “the racists are attacking the police. Hoorah” am I?

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:31:06

Johnson has apparently become the fascists pin-up.

Due we assume to his recent rhetoric

Smileless2012 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:30:36

You could contrast that scene in Brighton today with the scenes from the protest marches last weekend where no social distancing was adhered too and police and police horses were being attacked.

I'm not sure what you mean by your post "The racists are attacking the police. Oh dear!" Could you explain?

EllanVannin Sat 13-Jun-20 14:25:06

No thought or consideration about spreading the virus.

Some hypocrisy going on here if any of them have any thought about lives mattering. What a sham.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:24:47

Contrast the scene in London with the facist disruption to the scene in Brighton today. All social distancing stretching for mikes along the sea front

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:11:29

Bizarre that they give the Nazi salute as they “defend” Churchill’s statue?????

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:10:11

The racists are attacking the police. Oh dear!

Smileless2012 Sat 13-Jun-20 14:08:44

I've got 'hot under the collar' about the wilful vandalism and destruction of statues and other property Whitewavemark not because I think they're more important than lives but because I believe in peaceful and lawful demonstration not mob rule.

I certainly don't agree with fascism but in a democracy I agree as Rosalyn has posted, that they have as much right to march and protest as anyone else providing they do so lawfully and peacefully.

It's beginning to look that way Jabberwok which is a great shame as any good the BLM movement will be able to do, could well be undone.

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 14:01:01

Again, depends on your opinion , which you should be able to freely express without being sneered at!

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 13:57:56

Who on here is cheering?! We're just commenting that a free society is exactly that, freedom to protest whatever your political beliefs!

Whitewavemark2 Sat 13-Jun-20 13:57:47

jabberwok you know as well as I do that your statement isn’t true.

Jabberwok Sat 13-Jun-20 13:54:19

In a free society you would think so, but democracy only seems to work one way in this country, unfortunately!

Galaxy Sat 13-Jun-20 13:52:14

On a thread where Churchill is hailed as a hero for fighting fascists are we now cheering their right to march?