BY TAYLOR JOHNSON, Sophomore
BLYTHEWOOD-- There’s a huge debate going on between the Black Lives Matter movement and the All Lives Matter movement. Some people via social media have come to the conclusion that the saying All Lives Matter is a response to Black Lives Matter.
The BLM movement is the outcome of the multiple killings by police officers to African American citizens. Although BLM has been around since July 13, 2013, it went on a huge uproar this year when the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile occurred.
On July 5, Sterling, A 37 year old black male was gunned down by Baton Rouge Police. According to CNN News, sterling was shot outside of a convenience store when police responded to a call about a man threatening another man with a gun.
A day after Sterling's killing, Philando Castile was shot killed in front of his girlfriend and 4 year old daughter during a traffic stop. Castile reached for his wallet and the officer shot him.
According to The Huffington Post In just the last year at least 194 black people were killed by the police. Sterling being number 135.
“I feel like there is a new type of danger and responsibility at the same time,” said Marquise Williams, a sophomore at Ridge View High School. “Being a policeman, they shouldn’t bring harm to anyone.”
Trayvon Martin was a 17 year old African American who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch men on Feb. 26, 2012 in Sanford Florida. Martin was walking home from the store when he noticed Zimmerman following him. Martin ran but eventually got into a physical altercation with Zimmerman, resulting in his death.
Mike Brown was a 18 year old African American shot and killed by Ferguson police. He was walking to his grandmother's house when police approached him. Brown ran and was shot “more than just a couple of times not much more” according to The New Yorker.
Keith Scott was an unarmed black man shot and killed by Charlotte police after being mistaken for another man out with a warrant, Sparking dangerous riots instead of peaceful protests.
“I would be in complete shock. I would be looking for more justice than revenge because looking for revenge would only cause my family more trouble. Protests would be better than riots in my opinion.” Shammarah Grant, a sophomore at Blythewood high school said
The same things going on in society today are the same things that went on 50 plus years ago. The Emmett Till case for example. Emmett was tortured and killed by two white men after being accused of whistling at a white store clerk. Racism is still well alive and active.
“In my opinion history is repeating itself and its a bad thing.” Junior, Jordan Mckenzie from Blythewood High said. “Dr.King didn't want this for us anymore. He wanted us to become a nation and not fight against each other but to fight with each other.”
