They’re champions for people and peace!
The Black Lives Matter movement has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, Blavity reports.
The initiative was started in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi following the murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his assailant. Since then, the founders have expanded their imprint. They’ve risen to protest police brutality and racial inequality, amplifying their voice after the death of more unarmed Black people at the hands of police and white supremacists, including Michael Brown and Eric Garner. This past year, the movement was at center stage even more, with protests sparking across the globe in response to the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, pushing for radical systemic change.
Norwegian Parliament member Petter Eide nominated the organization for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, citing its success in forcing the world to deal with racism. A human rights activist and previous Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Eide said he was impressed by the movement’s ability to galvanize people from all walks of life.
“It has been a broad movement, in a way which has been different from their predecessors…I find that one of the key challenges we have seen in America, but also in Europe and Asia, is the kind of increasing conflict based on inequality. Black Lives Matter has become a significant worldwide movement to fight racial injustice. They have had a tremendous achievement in raising global awareness and consciousness about racial injustice,” Eide said.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee takes nominations annually from national serving politicians who must present their nomination in 2,000 words or less. Past winners include Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Forever President Barack Obama. Also nominated this year alongside Garza, Cullors, and Tometi is former Georgia gubernatorial candidate turned voting rights activist, Stacey Abrams.
Critics of the Black Lives Matter movement have argued that the organization was responsible for inciting riots this summer, which broke out amidst protests resulting in damage to businesses and properties. However, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data released a study concluding that 93% of Black Lives Matter demonstrations didn’t involve serious harm to people or property. More importantly, it has been shown that most of the incidents causing destruction were started by counter-protestors or the police.
“Awarding the peace prize to Black Lives Matter, as the strongest global force against racial injustice, will send a powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity, and human rights and that all countries must respect those basic principles,” Eide said.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be chosen this October, with a ceremony slated for December 10th.
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Photo Courtesy of Kayla Reefer/TIME Magazine