Category Archives: Black Lives Matter

UPDATE: Please see a message from the author at the bottom of this article.

Freedom fighters around the globe commemorate July 13 as the day that three Black women helped givebirth to a movement. In the five short years since #Black LivesMatter arrived on the scene thanks to the creative genius of Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometti the push for Black liberation from state-inflicted violence hasevolved into one of the most influential social movements of the post-civil rights era.

Black Lives Matter has always been more of a human rights movement rather than a civil rights movement. BLM's focus has been less about changing specific laws and more about fighting for a fundamental reordering of society wherein Black lives are free from systematic dehumanization. Still, the movements measurable impact on the political and legal landscape is undeniable.

What gets referred to as the Black Lives Matter movement is, in actuality, the collective labor of a wide range of Black liberation organizations, each which their own distinct histories. These organizations include groups like the Black Youth Project 100, the Dream Defenders, Assatas Daughters, the St. Louis Action council, Millennial Activists United, and the Organization for Black Struggle, to name just a few.

Collectively, since 2013, these organizers have effected significant change locally and nationally, includingthe ousting of high-profile corrupt prosecutors. In Chicago, the labor of groups such as BYP100 and Assatas Daughters, among others, led Anita Alvarez who had inexplicably failed to charge police officers who shot at least 68 people to death to lose her re-election bid for Cook County prosecutor. And in Florida, groups like The Dream Defenders and othershelped end Angela Coreys reign as a state attorney. Corey remains infamous forfailing to convict Trayvon Martins killer George Zimmerman while prosecuting Marissa Alexander, a Black woman who didnt hurt anyone when firing a warning shot at her abusive ex-husband.

Podcast: Hear Patrisse Cullors on the Evolution of Black Lives Matter

The BLM movements work certainly doesnt stop there. Students on the ground in Missouri, as part of the #ConcernedStudent1950 movement,helped lead to the resignation of the University of Missouri president over his failure to deal with racism on campus. BLM compelled Democrats to restructure their national platform to include issues such as criminal justice reform, and the movement contributed to the election of Black leftist organizers to public office, such as activist Chokwe Lumumba to mayor of Jackson, Mississippi.

The BLMmovements unrelenting work on the issue of police corruption, helped incite the release of four unprecedented U.S. Department of Justice reports that confirm the widespread presence of police corruption in Baltimore, Chicago, Ferguson, and Cleveland. Moreover, the Movement for Black Livespublication of awatershed multi-agenda policy platform authored by over 50 black-centered organizations laid bare the expansive policy goals of the movement. The fact that these accomplishments have happened so quickly is an extraordinary achievement in and of itself.

Moreover, the broader cultural impact of BLM as a movement has been immeasurably expansive. BLM will forever be remembered as the movement responsible for popularizing what has now become an indispensable tool in 21st-century organizing efforts: the phenomenon that scholars refer to as mediated mobilization. By using the tools of social media, BLM was the first U.S. social movement in history to successfully use the internet as a mass mobilization device. The recent successes of movements, such as #MeToo, #NeverAgain, and #TimesUp, would be inconceivable had it not been for the groundwork that #BlackLivesMatter laid.

Many have suggested, erroneously, that the BLM movement has quieted down in the age of Trump. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything the opposite is true: BLM is stronger, larger, and more global now than ever before. The success of initiatives such as Alicia Garzas Black Census Project the largest national survey focusing on U.S. black lives in over 150 years and Patrisse Cullorslaunch of the grassroots effort Dignity and Power Now in support of incarcerated people, both exemplify the BLM movements continued impact, particularly in local communities.

The idea that BLM is in a decline stage is false. Instead, what is true is that American mainstream media has been much less willing to actually cover the concerns of the BLM in part because it has been consumed by the daily catastrophes of the Trump presidency. Nonetheless, it would be a mistake to assume that BLM is dwindling away simply because the cameras are no longer present. The revolution is still happening it is just not being televised. All throughout the country, BLM organizers are at work in their local communities feverishly fighting for change and relentlessly speaking truth to power.For instance,The Dream Defenders in Florida just released their visionary project The Freedom Papers, and BYP100 just celebrated its five-year anniversary.

Ironically, many of the debates that have come to define the age of Trump, such as the immigration debate, are arguably indirectly influenced by BLM. A notable example: Recently, some congressional Democrats have called for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been violating the rights of undocumented immigrants. What has been missing in much of the mainstream coverage of the ICE debate is an acknowledgment of how the democratic lefts radicalization would not have been possible without the efforts of Black radical grassroots social movements, such as BLM.

Indeed, long before congressional Democrats dared to call for the abolition of ICE, #blacklivesmatter activists pioneered the call for an end of modern policing in America. The language of abolition comes directly from the work of grassroots activists, such asthose in the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Their work helped to revive a long black radical tradition of engaging the rhetoric of abolitionism.

We literally would not even be using the word abolition let alone embracing it as a framework had it not been for the labor of BLM activists. The fact that Democrats are gradually calling for the abolition of ICE is a testimony to the continued impact of BLM as a social movement.

As we reflect on five years of BLM, we would do well to consider the myriad ways that #blacklivesmatter has influenced our contemporary moment and given us a framework for imagining what democracy in action really looks like. Whether it be transforming how we talk about police violence or transforming how we talk about abolitionism, the BLMmovementhas succeeded in transforming how Americans talk about, think about, and organize for freedom.

Frank Leon Roberts is the founder of the Black Lives Matter Syllabus and teachesat New York University.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: An earlier version of this essay inadvertently conflated two important distinctions: Black Lives Matter, the organization, vs. Black Lives Matter, the movement. Black Lives Matter, the organization, is a global decentralized networkwith over 30 chapters across the world. Black Lives Matter, the movement, is a broad conceptual umbrella that refers to the important work of a wide range of Black liberation organizations. Sometimes referred to as the Movement for Black Lives, the achievements of the Black Lives Matter movement would not be possible had it not been for the collective efforts of groups such as Black Youth Project 100, the Dream Defenders, Assatas Daughters, the St. Louis Action council, Millennial Activists United, and the Organization for Black Struggle, to name just a few. This essay is an attempt to celebrate the movement without attributing the movements achievements solely to Black Lives Matter, the organization.

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How Black Lives Matter Changed the Way Americans Fight for ...

Once considered radical, Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney recently marched alongside Black, queer, elderly, and millennial allies to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Corporate giants have also joined the cause. Nike, Citi, and Walmart were among the first to hitch their brands to this new wave of antiracist action, joined daily by a growing chorus of business leaders pledging solidarity.

The modern movement for racial justice has been building for years, and it has reached a tipping point with the abhorrent murder of George Floyd and other acts of racial violence toward Black people in America. Black Lives Matter stands at the center of this movement, with a historic opportunity to stop police brutality and advance racial justice. What the movements leaders decide to do next will determine whether or not it takes a significant step forward toward changing policy and attitudes about race in this country.

While its not entirely clear who is leading the movement for Black lives, that doesnt mean it is leaderless. Black Lives Matter officials only rarely appear on cable news or social-media news feeds. The three women who co-founded Black Lives Matter have not occupied center stage during these past weeks of extraordinary protest. To the average person, it might look like no one is in charge.

This strategy is intentional. From the start, Black Lives Matter was committed to being a leaderfull movement leading from the grassroots up by allowing victims, survivors, and people with personal experience to speak out and stand at the front of protest marches. This was a smart decision. We know fromour researchthat the most successful modern social movements embrace this leadership approach, understanding that it is both effective and protective. Without a sole charismatic leader, the movement is less vulnerable to attacks such as the tragic assassinations of civil-rights leaders in the 1960s, most notably the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In addition to being leaderfull, Black Lives Matter shares traits with other successful social movements of our time, most notably marriage equality, antismoking efforts, and gun-rights expansion. The movement to advance racial justice and protect Black lives can deploy these same approaches to gain even more traction.

Embrace a 10/10/10/20 = 50 States Strategy

As the powerful protests against police brutality continue on the streets and in front of TV cameras, Black Lives Matter advocates and their allies are diligently working behind the scenes in decentralized but tightly woven networks to reform government policies at state and local levels. They are advocating, litigating, and negotiating for change in the places where policy and life collide within each of the 50 states. They also are clearly tailoring their approach for each unique political system and cultural milieu.

Advocates for same-sex marriage focused fiercely on policy reform across theU.S. states,acting on what they dubbed their 10/10/10/20 = 50vision for change. They adapted strategies for different regions of the country and set achievable goals for each state: Full marriage in 10 states; civil unions in another 10 states; same-sex-relationship recognition laws in 10 more states; and in the remaining 20 states, repeal of discriminatory laws against members of the LGBTQ community. This meant fighting to protect the first same-sex marriage law in Massachusetts and pushing for such a law in New York while advocating in Texas to repeal antisodomy and other discriminatory laws.

LGBTQ advocates ultimately won marriage equality nationwide in 2015 with the landmark Supreme Court rulingObergefell v. Hodges, but only after decades of activism and advocacy in each U.S. state. Similarly, if Black Lives Matter advocates focus their firepower on state and local policy reform now, while they have the nations attention and empathy they can generate the momentum needed to eventually achieve nationwide changes. But if, instead, the movement pushes for sweeping federal changes too soon, they could squander this historic opportunity.

Change Social Norms, Not Just Government Policies

In this time of extraordinary racial reckoning, public attitudes toward race and police brutality are rapidly shifting. The latestCiviqspolls show that the number of American voters supporting Black Lives Matter grew from 46 percent to 53 percent following George Floyds murder. This attitude shift was triggered by the millions of advocates and allies demonstrating on U.S. streets and worldwide, and likely by the use of police and military force ordered by President Trump and some state and local officials against mostly peaceful protesters.

Pop culture has also influenced attitudes about race at a more accelerated clip in recent years. TV series likeBlackish,movies such asThe Hate You Give,documentaries like13th,and books such asTheNew Jim Crowhave worked their way into the conscience of a growing number of Americans. But pop culture alone cannot change social norms about race or reverse the racist attitudes of people who commit violent and hateful acts toward Black people and who arent watching these films or reading those books. Racists subscribe to a separate canon of content that informs and reinforces white supremacist, xenophobic, populist, and other views.

Racism is a social norm, a cultural attitude, a personal opinion. It cannot be legislated or regulated. But it can be changed. Dismantling deeply rooted social and cultural norms is more challenging than changing laws or regulations. But it is possible, as the fight for marriage equality powerfully demonstrates.

In that movement, reformers deliberately set out to first understand where most people in America stood on same-sex marriage. National polls in the 2000s showed that although a handful of respondents were adamantly opposed to gay marriage, whether for ideological, religious, or other reasons, the vast majority did not have a strong opinion. They werent for it or against it. Many said they didnt understand why gay people wanted to marry. So the Freedom to Marry campaign and its allies set out to convince this silent, if confused, majority of persuadable people to support their cause.

They deftly deployed social-norm-change campaigns centered onlove. Social-media ads showed a lesbian couple raising a son in Massachusetts who was an ice-hockey state champion. Another profiled a straight uncle coming around to the idea of his nephew marrying his partner. The idea was to normalize the idea of same-sex partnerships and marriage.

Focusing on love was a departure from previous LGBTQ campaigns, which centered more on defending rights and protesting discrimination. Similarly, now that Black Lives Matter has earned the empathy of a majority of people in America, they can attract more allies to the racial-justice cause and turn that support into action in statehouses and at the voting booth.

Break From Business as Usual

Whether by choice or by default, companies today are becoming more involved with social movements, with seemingly every corporate CEO now speaking out against racism. This isnt necessarily new, but it can make a difference in shaping cultural norms and attitudes even when some of these efforts fall flat.

In 2015, following a racist incident at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, the companys CEO, Howard Shultz, deputized his army of baristas totalk about race.The campaign was quickly snuffed by the backlash to this ill-advised (if well-intentioned) idea. But it also put race squarely in front of the consumer, pushing the sensitive issue into more public view.

Long before Starbucks tried to strike up casual conversations about race over a cup of coffee, another leading brand broke ground on this issue in the 1990s. Timberland mounted the novel Give Racism the Boot campaign, running print magazine ads and tagging jackets in its stores with mini-booklets designed to raise customer awareness and discussion. The campaign content was designed in partnership with City Year, a national service organization with a long history of partnership with the company.

These approaches demonstrate how business can be a vector for change, not just a donor to causes or a target of activist ire. Companies play roles in social movements that are much more complex and far-reaching than self-promotional advertisements or corporate statements promising racial solidarity. Corporate leaders who want to demonstrate support with Black Lives Matter can start by reforming internal policies on hiring, retention, promotion, and pay equity, and reviewing their supply chain through a lens of diversity and inclusion, among other ways to takemeaningful action against racism.

How Change Will Happen

Black Lives Matter and its allies are crossing a Rubicon in this moment of racial reckoning. What they do next can determine not just how Black people are policed, but how they are fundamentally viewed and treated by all institutions of society. Beyond protest and policy change, they can deploy success strategies of other 21st-century social movements to further bend the arc of history closer toward racial justice and lasting systemic change.

Leslie Crutchfield is the author ofHow Change Happens: Why Some Social Movements Succeed While Others Dont. She teaches corporate social responsibility and nonprofit leadership at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business, where she serves as executive director ofBusiness for Impact.

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Black Lives Matter: From Protests to Lasting Change ...

Demonstrators march in the streets on August 26, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As the city declared a state of emergency curfew, a fourth night of civil unrest occurred after the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, on August 23. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

Demonstrators march in the streets on August 26, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As the city declared a state of emergency curfew, a fourth night of civil unrest occurred after the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, on August 23.

Gaige Grosskreutz, who was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse during racial justice protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year, is suing the city, the county and several law enforcement officers, claiming they condoned the efforts of white nationalists to violently dispel demonstrators protesting a police shooting.

A wave of protests erupted in Kenosha in August of last year following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot multiple times by a white police officer at point-blank range and left paralyzed from the waist down.

At one of the protests, the then 17-year-old Rittenhouse shot and killed two people Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Grosskreutz, who says he lost 90% of his right bicep. Prosecutors have charged Rittenhouse with killing the two men and shooting Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse, whose trial has been delayed until November, claims the shootings were in self-defense and has pleaded not guilty.

According to Grosskreutz's federal lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Thursday, authorities in Kenosha not only knew that armed vigilantes planned to patrol the protest attended by Black Lives Matter supporters, but also encouraged their participation.

"It was not a mistake that Kyle Rittenhouse would kill two people and maim a third on that evening," the lawsuit claims. "It was a natural consequence of the actions of the Kenosha Police Department and Kenosha Sherriff's office in deputizing a roving militia to 'protect property' and 'assist in maintaining order.'"

Grosskreutz says the coordination between authorities and armed citizens like Rittenhouse deprived the protestors of their constitutional right to freedom of speech, endangering them during the demonstration.

"Defendants' open support of and coordination with the armed individuals in the minutes and hours before the shootings deprived Anthony Huber and the other protestors of the basic protections typically provided by police," the lawsuit says. "It was a license for the armed individuals to wreak havoc and inflict injury."

The lawsuit also alleges that the police treated Rittenhouse the way they did because he was white, and that if an armed Black man had offered to patrol the protest, "he most likely would have been shot dead."

NPR reached out to the city of Kenosha and its police department, as well as Kenosha County and its sheriff's office, but did not immediately get a response.

Since the shootings, Rittenhouse has received support from conservative groups and Blue Lives Matter activists. President Trump declined to condemn his actions in the days after the shootings.

The Kenosha Police Department announced in April that Rusten Sheskey, the officer who shot Blake, acted within department policy and wouldn't face discipline. Federal prosecutors said this month that they would not file charges against Sheskey.

Blake has filed a federal lawsuit against Sheskey, accusing him of excessive force.

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Protester shot by Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha is now suing Wisconsin authorities - NPR

Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK), a leading global creative platform offering full-service solutions, high-quality content, and applications for brands, businesses and media companies, today announced the results of a landmark study, DE&I in Marketing: A Global Report by Shutterstock. The results explore the opinions and actions of 2,700 marketers in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and USA, across their use of diverse content in marketing campaigns, and how global events have impacted decisions.

Our DE&I in Marketing study encompasses the events of the last year and a half, and how these monumental moments have impacted how diversity is valued and prioritized in brand content decisions, said Meeckel Beecher, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Shutterstock. Despite the widespread lockdowns, content creation excelled, and the resilience of creativity has prevailed. There is no denying the worlds media has paid more attention than ever before to cultural movements and raising much needed awareness, however, we wanted to understand to what extent this has been truly mirrored in content choices. Upholding values of diversity, inclusivity, representation and respect have never been more important, or more urgent. Launching this Global Diversity Awareness Month, our report highlights that there is more work to be done, and were looking forward to collaborating with our partners to do the work. Its positive to note that people are listening, and our mission at Shutterstock continues to be ensuring all creative content represents the diverse global community.

Societal Movements Impact on Diverse Content

Globally, the rise of awareness surrounding the Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements last year drove brands to launch and develop existing anti-racism pledges. Nearly two-thirds of global marketers (63%) state these movements significantly impacted content decisions over the last 12 months. Exploring this further, 65% of marketers agree racial and ethnic diversity is an important factor when targeting campaign audiences. However, the results also show that 44% of those surveyed believe it can be difficult to reflect their brand with racial and ethnic diversity visually.

Lockdown Restricts Localized Content

Given the current international travel restrictions in place, lockdown restrictions still have a monumental impact on marketing content creation. With borders closed and stay-at-home orders enacted in many places, 37% of global marketers say their ability to source diverse content has been significantly impacted due to travel restrictions. The knock-on effect on content creation is clear: a quarter of marketers (25%) state they have been unable to localize content for individual markets. This has pushed more than one in six (17%) global marketers to violate lockdown restrictions risking health and legal implications to continue to create diverse content.

Brands Battle to Marry Representation With Authenticity

Events over the last year plus have encouraged more than a third (34%) of global marketers to believe that accurately representing the world we live in is the most important objective for content used in marketing campaigns. There is more of a desire for brands to effectively represent the world we live in over what their brands purpose is (34% vs. 33%). However, as consumers look to engage with authentic brands, marketers must understand how to ensure marketing is aligned with their core beliefs and values, or risk being seen as disingenuous.

Marketers state accurate representation is the top reason behind increasing their usage of content that features same sex couples (64%), racially diverse models (68%), people with disabilities (60%), and transgender models (62%). It is reassuring that 75% of marketers understand the importance of this content being created authentically by the same audience it intends to reach.

Marketers Are Indifferent To Political Ideology

Global brands are more focused on presenting their own ideology through their marketing decisions rather than representing the political landscape. Just under half (41%) of global respondents said they focus their efforts more specifically on their own company ideology, compared to just 32% who look to reflect the political landscape. More than a quarter (26%) aim for their campaign creative to oppose the political landscape, demonstrating the increasing rise of brands making their own stand to social issues, and establishing their own voice.

Other Key Global Findings Reveal That:

Research Methodology

The research was conducted by Censuswide among 2,723 marketers in the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Brazil, Australia and South Korea between 13th April and 27th April, 2021. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society to operate, according to the ESOMAR principles.

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Nearly Two-Thirds of Global Marketers Adapt Creative Following Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate Movements - The Ritz Herald

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A Virginia Beach grandmother is causing quite the stir in her neighborhood not far from the Hilltop Area.

Paula Hughes, who has lived in her home for about 40 years, said she added the handmade Black Lives Matter sign to her front window last fall to show her support for the movement.

The BLM letters were originally bright pink and just recently, but she and her grandkids have since decorated them with autumn leaves, Hughes said.

They decorated them after she got an anonymous letter in the mail, about a month ago.

In that letter, the author asked her to take down the sign. The homeowner believes the letter was written by an adult but the envelope was addressed by a child.

The anonymous author said, Please take down your bright pink sign in your picture window. At this point we ALL know you are a lover of BLM. It is obvious you are neglecting your yard with overgrown bushes and trees. If your intention is to bring down your street by making your yard ghetto, you have succeeded. I am writing this on behalf of your neighbors. It would serve you well to educate yourself on BLM. God bless you. You are in our prayers.

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75-year-old Hughes decided to take that letter and enlarge it into a giant posterboard and put it in her yard for the neighborhood to see.

Since then, she said she has had people stopping by and showing their support. However, last night, there were two notes scribbled onto the sign.

At first, she thought it was graffiti that was condemning her but it appeared it was actually people supporting her efforts.

One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said, "She merely is stating what she believes in, and I think its great."

Hughes described how it all began with those three letters.

It went up because I couldnt march and felt there was something I had to do to show solidarity with the movement. So I went out and bought the brightest colors I could find.

And Hughes said she doesnt feel like she has done anything wrong and there is no homeowners association, so she says she is not breaking any rules.

Hughes has reached out for some legal advice. She said she does not intend to take down the BLM letters anytime soon.

RELATED: Virginia legislators pass resolution declaring racism a public health crisis

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75-year-old Virginia woman displays anonymous letter in front yard for all to see - wtvr.com

THE Lady Lever Art Gallery is placing a painting featuring an enslaved African person at the front and centre of its displays.

The oil painting of Catherine-Marie Legendre, painted about 1705 and attributed to Jean Baptiste Santerre (1658-1717), is the only item in the gallerys collection, from the 18th century, to depict a person of colour. Following a period in conservation, the painting will be on display from October 1 2021 in a new and more prominent place on the gallery, inviting comment from the public.

The disturbing portrait by Santerre is designed to show the sitters wealth and position in society.

It depicts a young boy, who is an enslaved African person, brought from a plantation to work as an unpaid house servant. He is wearing a decorative metal slave collar around his neck. His name is not known, but the sitter is Catherine-Marie Legendre (or Le Gendre, died 1749), the wife of French nobleman, Claude Pecoil (1629-1722), Marquise de Septme.

Alyson Pollard, Head of the Lady Lever Art Gallery said: The Lady Lever Art Gallery is seeking to display, more openly, the Black histories and stories linked to the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its legacies which are hidden in the collections. Displaying a problematic and disturbing painting, like this, prominently and acknowledging its context is the beginning of a long term project to ensure our collections are not seen and viewed through a single historic lens but instead reflect multiple histories."

This intervention is one of several actions which the Lady Lever Art Gallery is taking in response to Black Lives Matter and the death of George Floyd. The gallery has updated its website to acknowledge Lord Levers activities in West Africa during the period 1911 to 1925 and has started to engage in research into Levers legacy and reinterpret its collection to fully reflect the histories of the collection.

For more information on National Museums Liverpools response to Black Lives Matter see liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/blacklivesmatter

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LOOKING BACK: Slavery painting will be displayed as museum confronts Black Lives Matter issues - Wirral Globe

Hate crime has hit a new record after racially-motivated incidents rocketed during Black Lives Matter protests and a far-right backlash.

Police recorded over 124,000 hate crimes across England and Wales in the year to March, of which three-quarters were racial.

A Home Office report published on Tuesday said police have improved the way the crimes are recorded, but there have also been short-term genuine rises in hate crime following certain trigger events.

It added: Increases in hate crime were seen around the EU referendum in June 2016 and the terrorist attacks in 2017. There was also an increase in public order hate crimes during the summer of 2020 following the widespread Black Lives Matter protests and far-right counter-protests.

The death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in the US in May 2020, triggered huge demonstrations in London and towns and cities across the UK.

In response, some far-right groups took up the slogan white lives matter and mounted counter-protests that saw clashes.

The vandalism of statues linked with slavery and colonialism during some Black Lives Matter protests sparked rallies by people claiming to defend monuments, including one that saw police attacked in London in June 2020.

More than 92,000 race hate crimes were recorded in the year (74 per cent of all hate crimes), as well as 18,500 motivated by sexual orientation (15 per cent), 9,943 disability (8 per cent), 6,377 religion (5 per cent) and 2,799 transgender (2 per cent).

The overall number of hate crimes increased by 9 per cent on the previous year, which was itself a record.

But only 10 per cent of all hate crimes resulted in a prosecution, figures show, and a suspect is not identified by police in a quarter of cases.

Figures show racial hate crimes spiking during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and counter-protests

(Home Office)

Labour said the statistics must be a wake-up call for urgent change.

The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, added: The shamefully small number of offenders being brought to justice shows how damaging Tory police cuts have been, allowing vile criminals to escape justice yet again.

The backlash against people standing up to racial injustice shows how far we have to go as a country to defeat hatred.

The Race Equality Foundation said the figures paint a bleak picture for equality in the UK.

Chief executive Jabeer Butt OBE added: The fact that almost three quarters of hate crimes were racially motivated shows just how far is left to go towards building a society that is truly tolerant and anti-racist.

It is all too clear that too many people still face horrific attacks simply on the basis of who they are. The government's Hate Crime Action Plan has clearly fallen short and needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency.

The largest proportionate rise was to race hate crime, up 12 per cent, while disability hate crimes increased by 9 per cent, sexual orientation hate crimes by 7 per cent and transgender identity hate crimes by 3 per cent.

People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis

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A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square

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People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester

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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

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Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester

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People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square

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Demonstrators in Leicester

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A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square

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A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester

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A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London

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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff

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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London

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Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury

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People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

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Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square

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Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London

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Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London

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Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square

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Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester

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A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square

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Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London

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Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton

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A protest at Parliament Square in London

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A demonstrator in Leicester

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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square

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Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester

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Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station

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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast

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Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London

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Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square

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Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London

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People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

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Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London

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People are seen placing placards on a fence in London

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A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford

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A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd

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Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford

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Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street

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Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London

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Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square

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A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square

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New hate crime record after racial attacks rocket during Black Lives Matter protests and far-right backlash - The Independent

Dubai:

The T20 World Cup will commence on October 17 in the UAE and Oman and West Indies are among the favourites, given their form and the fact that they are the two-time champions.

The West Indian players have been taking a knee and raising their fists before the start of games in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement ever since American George Floyd was killed in May 2020.

"From my knowledge at this present time, I think it's something we're going to continue because it's something that we strongly believe in, as a team. Hopefully we can just continue to show our support for something that I think is close to our hearts," Pollard told espncricinfo from his quarantine hotel in Dubai.

On whether he would encourage England cricketers and support staff to take a knee before their matches, Pollard added, "Everyone has their own opinions on racism and Black Lives Matter and all these things. So, I can't tell them what to do or expect anything, because sometimes when you expect things from people, you tend to get disappointed.

"Again, sometimes, you just have to look at the man in the mirror, and if we think it is something that is very, very important to us, we will do it. And if the opposition thinks that as well, it's up to them. If they don't, (it's a matter of) personal choices," added Pollard.

England will take on West Indies in the opening match of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on October 23, and there is speculation whether the Joe Root-led side will show support for the BLM movement.

England pace bowler Chris Jordan has said that his side has not yet taken a decision on the issue at its training camp in Oman.

"Nothing has been discussed, really. We'll discuss it and if people feel strongly about it, we'll definitely do it. On the flip side, if we don't, then we won't. We'll have to discuss that internally and then take it from there," he said.

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West Indies to continue taking a knee in support of Black lives matter: Pollard - DTNEXT

Artists push for continued change through pieces displayed at Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum

PORTIA SIMMONS

Alison Saar walks patrons of the museum through her exhibit Mirror, Mirror.

The Black Lives Matter Artist Grant allows artists to create pieces reflecting the structural changes in our society enacted by the BLM movement.

These works were put on display at the beginning of the fall 2021 semester at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the Pullman campus. The artists awarded the Black Lives Matter Artist Grant were given $2,500 eachto create art concerning the Black Lives Matter movement and institutionalized racism in our country.

During the Press Hour on Oct, 5, collector Jordan Schnitzer said he felt frustratedbecause he not only felt the movement was long overdue, but because he wanted a medium to advocate for change.

The power behind these pieces can be felt when one walks around the room. Every artist had a personal reason for entering her work.

Artist Jasmine Iona Brown said her soninspired her to create her pieces because society makes assumptions about him based on his appearance.

I still fear every time he walks out the door, Brown said. Why cant he be perceived as a young man instead of a threat?

Artist Bob Lloyd said he will continue to promote modifications to our society by giving more power to Black individuals in the judicial, medical and educational systems.

Im going to push for that change, Lloyd said.

Artist Lisa Myers Bulmash said the time for change is now since people of color have been oppressed for hundreds of years.

What needs to be more gradual? Myers Bulmash said.

She said people cant just decide to do a one-off when it comes to supporting the Black community. People need to make gestures, such as a one-time donation or giving a part of your life to truly support the community.

In the U.S., if you dont have a certain skin color, all bets are off, said artist Rene Westbrook. She didnt have a way to channel her voice until she discovered how to speak through her art.

The currency of skin is a right of passage, Westbrook said.

After the grant winners spoke, sculpturist and artist Alison Saar guided the audience through her pieces. She said she felt sculptures have an amazing presence.

You can look right in their eyes, toe to toe with them, Saar said.

Saar said she uses many recycled materials in her work, such as frying pans. One of her pieces, titled Mulatta Seeking Inner Negress, shows a woman gazing into a frying pan and a reflection looking back. Saar said she uses mirrors to show a piece of her own identity.

It is a reflection of my ancestry, Saar said. I identify as Black but appear white.

Visit the gallery at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. You can see the BLM Grant works from today until Dec. 18, 2021. Alison Saars exhibit Mirror, mirror,will be on display until March 12, 2022. Hopefully, this will inspire you to promote change. Not only do these artists want you to hear their message, but be a supporter of it.

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Grant winners share inspiration behind BLM art The Daily Evergreen - The Daily Evergreen

The bronze bust of Sir Henry Morton Stanley - who is best known for the famous line: "Dr Livingstone, I presume?" - has been stood for a decade in his Welsh town of Denbigh. However, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, the statue could be torn down.

On Friday and Saturday, locals will take to vote on whether the statue dedicated to the journalist and politician should be removed.

Chairman of Denbigh town councillor Rhys Thomas said: "I need to keep neutral on all of this.

"I think it's been active on Facebook, but there we are.

"It is something a few people are quite interested in on either side."

Councillor Glen Swingler said: "I think the feeling in town is very mixed.

"I've noticed on social media over the last couple of days that those coming out against it, they've got a bit more vociferous.

"It's not getting nasty. I wouldn't like to guess which way any sort of vote would go, but then again, I don't know how many people are actually going to go out and vote."

He added: "I will vote, yes. I've got my own opinions, but I will vote as it is my right."

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However, his supporters have said Sir Henry was not working for the Belgian despot when the atrocities took place.

Sir Henry has been accused by his contemporaries for his atrocities towards the African people.

Explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton once said that "Stanley shoots Africans as if they were monkeys".

The vote will be taken by Denbigh Town Council on October 15 between 10am and 7pm and on October 16 between 10am and 1pm at the Town Hall.

It will be open to all Denbigh residents aged 16 and over.

In the UK, several statues and busts were removed or vandalised during last year's Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the nation.

Protestors in Bristol pulled down the controversial statue of slave trader Edward Colston and threw it into the harbour.

Several monuments commemorating Captain James Cook were targeted with activists claiming the explorer symbolises racial oppression and violence.

The statue of slave trader Robert Milligan was also removed by authorities.

In wake of the protests last year, Sir Winston Churchills monument in Whitehall was vandalised before being encased in a protective box.

This week, the statue of Christopher Columbus in London was vandalised with red paint.

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Sir Henry Morton Stanley statue subjected to vote on whether to toppled amid BLM protests - Express