Black Lives Matter (BLM), a movement set up to tackle racism and police brutality in the United States, has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
The organisation, founded in 2013, came to worldwide prominence following the protests of 2020 which ignited after the death of George Floyd. Since then, the movement has built up organisations in many countries across the world. The nomination was made by Norwegian Member of Parliament Petter Eide.
Eide said in the nomination papers:
"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 very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice. They have had a tremendous achievement in raising global awareness and consciousness about racial injustice."
He added:
"They have been able to mobilise people from all groups of society, not just African-Americans, not just oppressed people, it has been a broad movement, in a way which has been different from their predecessors. 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."
BLM was originally founded in 2013 by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi following the acquittal of George Zimmerman who murdered a black teenager, Trayvon Martin.
Last year, BLM was awarded the Olaf Palme Prize for its hard work in fighting injustice. The award is named after former Swedish Prime Minister was who was assassinated by a suspected white supremacist.
While some have criticised BLM due to the violence seen at some protests, an in-depth study last year showed that the overwhelming majority of BLM protests were peaceful and that violence came from the police and counter-protestors. Indeed, the only murders to take place during a BLM protest were carried out by a white militia supporter in Kenosha.
The BLM movement released an official statement on twitter saying:
"We hold the largest social movement in global history. Today, we have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. People are waking up to our global call: for racial justice and an end to economic injustice, environmental racism, and white supremacy. We're only getting started."
We hold the largest social movement in global history. Today, we have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. People are waking up to our global call: for racial justice and an end to economic injustice, environmental racism, and white supremacy. We're only getting started ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/xjestPNFzC
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) January 30, 2021
Others nominated for the 2021 prize include climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
h/t: The Guardian
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