Black Lives Matter Activists Differ On The Need To Apologize To Bernie Sanders

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Since I last wrote regarding Black Lives Matter, the organization blacklivesmatter.com has released a few statements on the Bernie Sanders matter.  Most importantly, the organization was not behind the petition calling for an apology to Bernie Sanders.

From their Facebook page

The ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter organization did not create any petitions demanding apology from Seattle based organizers. We have not issued a public apology, neither have we made any public statements demanding an apology.

As I pointed out previously, the petition on change.org was set up by people identifying themselves as Black Lives Matter activists.  This is not the same thing as the organization.

In a subsequent post, the organization said the following:

At this time, ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter does not endorse any presidential candidate. Moreover, we are not affiliated with a political party. Our work is not funded or driven by any political party nor is it influenced by local or national candidates.

As stated in our mission, #BlackLivesMatter is an ideological and political intervention; we are not controlled by the same political machine we are attempting to hold accountable. In the year leading up to the elections, we are committed to holding all candidates for Office accountable to the needs and dreams of Black people. We embrace a diversity of tactics. We are a decentralized network aiming to build the leadership and power of black people. We do not endorse any political party, and we are not supported by any political party. Our political aims we’ve stated clearly.

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Historically, all political parties have participated in the systematic disenfranchisement of Black people. Anti-black racism, especially that sanctioned by the state, has resulted in the loss of healthy and thriving Black life and well-being. Given that, we will continue to hold politicians and political parties accountable for their policies and platforms. We will also continue to demand the intentional dismantling of structural racism.

For more information about #BlackLivesMatter nationally, please visit the official website at www.blacklivesmatter.com, follow @BlkLivesMatter on Twitter, or visit the Facebook page here.”

The same message is posted on the organization’s website, and again on the organization’s Twitter account.

Since I wrote, the petition on change.org has been closed.

As mentioned previously, there is a difference between the national organization and people who work with, support, or are sympathetic to the organization.  There is also a difference in approaches and opinions by people in the movement Black Lives Matter.

It’s worth restating that the organization Black Lives Matter is not affiliated with any political party or candidate, but that also means they are not singling out one politician for accountability to the exclusion of others.

The fact also remains, they deserve more than accountability.  They deserve action.

Image via Twitter

Adalia Woodbury

Former contributor.