🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa055)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement/zh1hl0wej\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement/zh1hl0wej\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/article\/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement\/zh1hl0wej","crawl_time":1774384655,"first_indexed_time":1663184438,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"au,com,sbs!www,\/nitv\/article\/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement\/zh1hl0wej s443","src_root_hash":"1931289001181297552","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"What is the #BlackLivesMatter movement? | SBS NITV","meta_descriptions":["It was the hashtag that captured the frustrations of three African American women and sparked a movement that brought worldwide attention to injustice."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"How did it start?\n#BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin.\nIn July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told\nUSA Today\n, “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.”\nAfter checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a\npost\nurging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”.\nHer friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and\nTwitter\naccount, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter.\nThe three women had begun a movement.\nAlicia Garza one of the founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.\nSource: Facebook\nIncreased awareness\nThe use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders. \nFurther deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police.\nOver\n500 members\nfrom across the USA joined in a #BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there.\nAlicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism.\nSolidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri\nSource: Facebook\nAccording\nto Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice \"into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt.\"\nIn the US in\n2014\nover 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police. \nThe death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter.\nThe group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement. \nThis has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates\nBernie Sanders\nand\nHilary Clinton\nin 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later\ndeclared its support\nfor the movement in August 2015.\nThe Movement\nWhile Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been\naccused\nof failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests.\nThe group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities.\nAlicia Garza told\nUSA Today\nthat, \"we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.”\nWe can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire.\nIt was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was\nexpanded\nto raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans.\nTheir\nwebsite\nproclaims:\n‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.'\n'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’\n2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism.\nSource: Getty Images\nThis expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates\ncommunity groups\ncampaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against\nsystemic racism\nin the education system.\nStudents at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism\nincited on campus\n such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation.\nBetween the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over\n950 demonstrations\nwere organised by various chapters across the USA. \nGlobal reach\nA truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination.\nGeotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were #BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an\nalmost daily\nbasis.\nA map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014\nSource: USA Today\nBy August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America.\nWhile there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in\nopinion pieces\nand by\ncommunity organisations\n, for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers.\nAs Alicia Garza\nacknowledges\n what started as an online outpouring of frustration \"is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world.\"\nSee also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.","attrs_markdown":"- [News](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/audio)\n- [Languages](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/en)\n- [What's On](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/whats-on)\n- [Guide](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/guide\/ondemand)\n- [Food](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/food)\n- [Indigenous](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/sport)\n- More\n\nLogin \/ Sign up\n\n[Help Centre](https:\/\/help.sbs.com.au\/hc\/en-au)\n\nSearch\n\n[Stream free online, anytime](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/)\n\nDiscover your world of SBS\n\nSign in or create an account\n\nSign In\n\nor\n\nCreate Account\n\n[Stream free online, anytime](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/audio)\n- [Languages](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/en)\n- [What's On](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/whats-on)\n- [Guide](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/guide\/ondemand)\n- [Food](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/food)\n- [Indigenous](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/sport)\n- [SBS Examines](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/english\/en\/sbs-examines)\n- [Teaching Resources](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/learn\/)\n- [Media Centre](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/mediacentre)\n\nGet in touch:\n\n- [Help Centre](https:\/\/help.sbs.com.au\/hc\/en-au)\n- [About SBS](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/)\n- [SBS Newsletters](https:\/\/myaccount.sbs.com.au\/)\n\nHighlights around SBS:\n\n- [Australia Explained](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/english\/en\/australia-explained)\n- [Road to FIFA World Cup 26™](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/fifa-world-cup-2026)\n- [NITV Muy Ngulayg: First Nations hub](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/nitv-muy-ngulayg)\n- [Ramadan and Eid 2026](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/english\/en\/eid-ramadan-2026)\n\nFollow Us:\n\nSBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.\n\n- [Country](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/country)\n- [Justice](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/justice)\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/entertainment)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/politics)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/sport)\n- [Health & Wellbeing](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/health-wellbeing)\n- [Excellence](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/topic\/excellence)\n- Menu\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/Trophy-ff1f79e.png)Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/fifa-world-cup-2026)\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/article\/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement\/zh1hl0wej#skip-ad-placement-1)\n\n![Black Lives Matter protest](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/dims4\/default\/3ae409c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/960x540+0+50\/resize\/1280x720!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsbs-au-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2Fdrupal%2Fnitv%2Fpublic%2Fblack_lives_matter.jpg&imwidth=1280)\n\n![Black Lives Matter protest](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/dims4\/default\/3ae409c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/960x540+0+50\/resize\/1280x720!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsbs-au-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2Fdrupal%2Fnitv%2Fpublic%2Fblack_lives_matter.jpg&imwidth=1280)\n\n5 min read\n\nThis article is more than 10 years old\n\n[Justice](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/tag\/section\/justice)\n\nExplainer\n# What is the \\#BlackLivesMatter movement?\n## It was the hashtag that captured the frustrations of three African American women and sparked a movement that brought worldwide attention to injustice.\nPublished 2 March 2016 12:38pm\n\nUpdated 2 March 2016 3:34pm\n\nBy Karina Marlow\n\nImage: Black Lives Matter protest after George Zimmerman was acquitted of the death of Trayvon Martin (Facebook)\n\n### How did it start?\n\\#BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin.\n\nIn July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told [USA Today](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/), “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.”\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/article\/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement\/zh1hl0wej#skip-ad-placement-2)\n\nAfter checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a [post](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) urging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”.\n\nHer friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag \\#BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/blklivesmatter?lang=en) account, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter.\n\nThe three women had begun a movement.\n\n![Alicia Garza](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/alicia-garza-lead.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\nAlicia Garza one of the founders of the \\#BlackLivesMatter movement. Source: Facebook\n### Increased awareness\nThe use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders.\n\nFurther deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police.\n\nOver [500 members](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement#sthash.GQBAxg4k.dpuf) from across the USA joined in a \\#BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there.\n\nAlicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism.\n\n![St Louis Ferguson Protest](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/st_louis_protest.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\nSolidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri Source: Facebook\n\n[According](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) to Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice \"into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt.\"\n\nIn the US in [2014](http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2015-12-07\/black-lives-matter\/6987766) over 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police.\n\nThe death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter.\n\nThe group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement.\n\nThis has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates [Bernie Sanders](http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com.au\/entry\/bernie-sanders-black-lives-matter_us_55f9ca9ce4b00310edf57b02?section=australia) and [Hilary Clinton](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) in 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later [declared its support](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) for the movement in August 2015.\n\n### The Movement\nWhile Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been [accused](https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/posteverything\/wp\/2015\/08\/24\/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter\/) of failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests.\n\nThe group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities.\n\nAlicia Garza told [USA Today](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) that, \"we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.”\n\n> We can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire.\n\nIt was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was [expanded](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) to raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans.\n\nTheir [website](http:\/\/blacklivesmatter.com\/guiding-principles\/) proclaims:\n\n> ‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.'\n\n'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’\n\n![University Of Missouri](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/uni.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\n2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism. Source: Getty Images\n\nThis expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates [community groups](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) campaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against [systemic racism](http:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/world\/frustrated-blacks-demand-to-be-heard-20151112-gkxza4.html) in the education system.\n\nStudents at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism [incited on campus](https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/grade-point\/wp\/2015\/11\/09\/the-incidents-that-led-to-the-university-of-missouri-presidents-resignation\/) such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation.\n\nBetween the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over [950 demonstrations](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) were organised by various chapters across the USA.\n\n### Global reach\nA truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination.\n\nGeotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were \\#BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an [almost daily](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) basis.\n\n![Black Lives Matter Twitter Map](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/map_of_blacklivesmatter.png?imwidth=1280)\n\nA map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014 Source: USA Today\n\nBy August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America.\n\nWhile there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in [opinion pieces](http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2015\/aug\/07\/if-black-lives-really-matter-in-australia-its-time-we-owned-up-to-our-history) and by [community organisations](http:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/video\/502557251659\/Australians-call-for-Black-Lives-Matter-campaign), for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers.\n\nAs Alicia Garza [acknowledges](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2) what started as an online outpouring of frustration \"is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world.\"\n\n#### [See also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.](http:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/dateline\/story\/unjust-justice)\n\n***\nShare\n\nTags\n\n[Country](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/tag\/section\/country)[Death in Custody](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/tag\/section\/death-in-custody)[Police](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/tag\/subject\/police)[Australia](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/tag\/geography\/australia)\n\n## Subscribe to the NITV Newsletter\nReceive the latest Indigenous news, sport, entertainment and more in your email inbox.\n\n## Follow NITV\n## Download our apps\n- ![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/common\/app-icon-news-33003a8.svg)SBS News\n  [iOS](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/au\/app\/sbs-news\/id432849691)[Android](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.sbs.worldnewsaustralia)\n- ![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/common\/app-icon-audio-975d5ac.svg)SBS Audio\n  [iOS](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/au\/app\/sbs-audio\/id470808084)[Android](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.thisisaim.yourlanguage)\n- ![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/common\/app-icon-on-demand-537b866.png)SBS On Demand\n  [iOS](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/au\/app\/sbs-on-demand\/id542090992)[Android](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.sbs.ondemand.android)\n\n## Listen to our podcasts\n- [![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/nitv\/podcast-nitvblak-683db35.png)Take It BlakInterviews and feature reports from NITV.](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/podcastcollection\/take-it-blak)\n- [![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/nitv\/podcast-goodways-744291a.jpg)GoodwaysA mob-made podcast about all things Blak life.](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/podcast\/goodways)\n\nGet the latest with our nitv podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.\n\n## Watch on NITV\n[![](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/_next\/static\/img\/nitv\/watch-tp-168d44c.jpg)](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand\/news-series\/the-point)\n\nThe Point: Referendum Road Trip\n\nLive weekly on Tuesday at 7.30pm\n\nJoin Narelda Jacobs and John Paul Janke to get unique Indigenous perspectives and cutting-edge analysis on the road to the referendum.\n\n\\#ThePoint\n\nWatch now\n\n## Explore SBS\n- [SBS Home](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/)\n- [SBS On Demand](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/ondemand)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/audio)\n- [Languages](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/en)\n- [What's On](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/whats-on)\n- [TV & Radio Guide](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/guide\/ondemand)\n- [Food](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/food)\n- [Indigenous](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/sport)\n- [Teaching Resources](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/learn\/resources)\n\n## Languages\n- [Arabic \/ العربية](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/arabic)\n- [普通话 \/ Mandarin](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/mandarin)\n- [廣東話 \/ Cantonese](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/cantonese)\n- [Tiếng Việt \/ Vietnamese](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/vietnamese)\n- [한국어 \/ Korean](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/korean)\n- [See all languages](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/language\/en)\n\n## Contact SBS\n- [1800 500 727 (toll free)](<tel:1800 500 727>)\n- [Help Centre](https:\/\/help.sbs.com.au\/hc\/en-au)\n- Locked Bag 028,  \n  Crows Nest NSW 1585\n## Follow SBS\n- [Copyright](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/copyright\/)\n- [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/terms-and-conditions\/)\n- [Privacy](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/privacy-at-sbs\/)\n- [Your online preferences](https:\/\/help.sbs.com.au\/hc\/en-au\/articles\/7926969248015-Preferences)\n- [Sales & Advertising](https:\/\/www.sbsmedia.com.au\/)\n- [Complaints](https:\/\/help.sbs.com.au\/hc\/en-au\/categories\/360000162996-General)\n- [SBS Code of Practice](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/sbs-code-of-practice\/)\n- [SBS Responsible AI Framework](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/sbs-guiding-principles-for-use-of-ai\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/careers.sbs.com.au\/)\n- [About us](https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/aboutus\/)\n\nSBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.","attrs_readable_markdown":"How did it start?\n\n\\#BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin.\n\nIn July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told [USA Today](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/), “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.”\n\nAfter checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a [post](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) urging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”.\n\nHer friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag \\#BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/blklivesmatter?lang=en) account, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter.\n\nThe three women had begun a movement.\n\n![Alicia Garza](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/alicia-garza-lead.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\nAlicia Garza one of the founders of the \\#BlackLivesMatter movement. Source: Facebook\n\nIncreased awareness\n\nThe use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders.\n\nFurther deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police.\n\nOver [500 members](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement#sthash.GQBAxg4k.dpuf) from across the USA joined in a \\#BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there.\n\nAlicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism.\n\n![St Louis Ferguson Protest](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/st_louis_protest.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\nSolidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri Source: Facebook\n\n[According](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) to Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice \"into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt.\"\n\nIn the US in [2014](http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2015-12-07\/black-lives-matter\/6987766) over 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police.\n\nThe death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter.\n\nThe group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement.\n\nThis has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates [Bernie Sanders](http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com.au\/entry\/bernie-sanders-black-lives-matter_us_55f9ca9ce4b00310edf57b02?section=australia) and [Hilary Clinton](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) in 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later [declared its support](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) for the movement in August 2015.\n\nThe Movement\n\nWhile Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been [accused](https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/posteverything\/wp\/2015\/08\/24\/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter\/) of failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests.\n\nThe group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities.\n\nAlicia Garza told [USA Today](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) that, \"we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.”\n\n> We can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire.\n\nIt was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was [expanded](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) to raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans.\n\nTheir [website](http:\/\/blacklivesmatter.com\/guiding-principles\/) proclaims:\n\n> ‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.'\n\n'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’\n\n![University Of Missouri](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/uni.jpg?imwidth=1280)\n\n2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism. Source: Getty Images\n\nThis expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates [community groups](http:\/\/time.com\/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter\/) campaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against [systemic racism](http:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/world\/frustrated-blacks-demand-to-be-heard-20151112-gkxza4.html) in the education system.\n\nStudents at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism [incited on campus](https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/grade-point\/wp\/2015\/11\/09\/the-incidents-that-led-to-the-university-of-missouri-presidents-resignation\/) such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation.\n\nBetween the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over [950 demonstrations](http:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/perspectives\/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) were organised by various chapters across the USA.\n\nGlobal reach\n\nA truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination.\n\nGeotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were \\#BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an [almost daily](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2015\/03\/04\/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter\/24341593\/) basis.\n\n![Black Lives Matter Twitter Map](https:\/\/assets.sbs.com.au\/drupal\/nitv\/public\/map_of_blacklivesmatter.png?imwidth=1280)\n\nA map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014 Source: USA Today\n\nBy August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America.\n\nWhile there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in [opinion pieces](http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2015\/aug\/07\/if-black-lives-really-matter-in-australia-its-time-we-owned-up-to-our-history) and by [community organisations](http:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/nitv\/video\/502557251659\/Australians-call-for-Black-Lives-Matter-campaign), for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers.\n\nAs Alicia Garza [acknowledges](http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/tech\/2) what started as an online outpouring of frustration \"is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world.\"\n\n[See also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.](http:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/dateline\/story\/unjust-justice)","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	How did it start? #BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin. In July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told USA Today , “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.” After checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a post urging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”. Her friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and Twitter account, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter. The three women had begun a movement. Alicia Garza one of the founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Source: Facebook Increased awareness The use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders. Further deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police. Over 500 members from across the USA joined in a #BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there. Alicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism. Solidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri Source: Facebook According to Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice "into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt." In the US in 2014 over 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police. The death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter. The group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement. This has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton in 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later declared its support for the movement in August 2015. The Movement While Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been accused of failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests. The group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities. Alicia Garza told USA Today that, "we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.” We can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire. It was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was expanded to raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans. Their website proclaims: ‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.' 'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’ 2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism. Source: Getty Images This expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates community groups campaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against systemic racism in the education system. Students at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism incited on campus such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation. Between the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over 950 demonstrations were organised by various chapters across the USA. Global reach A truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination. Geotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were #BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an almost daily basis. A map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014 Source: USA Today By August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America. While there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in opinion pieces and by community organisations , for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers. As Alicia Garza acknowledges what started as an online outpouring of frustration "is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world." See also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.
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Published 2 March 2016 12:38pm Updated 2 March 2016 3:34pm By Karina Marlow Image: Black Lives Matter protest after George Zimmerman was acquitted of the death of Trayvon Martin (Facebook) ### How did it start? \#BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin. In July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/), “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.” [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/what-is-the-blacklivesmatter-movement/zh1hl0wej#skip-ad-placement-2) After checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a [post](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) urging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”. Her friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag \#BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/blklivesmatter?lang=en) account, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter. The three women had begun a movement. ![Alicia Garza](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/alicia-garza-lead.jpg?imwidth=1280) Alicia Garza one of the founders of the \#BlackLivesMatter movement. Source: Facebook ### Increased awareness The use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders. Further deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police. Over [500 members](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement#sthash.GQBAxg4k.dpuf) from across the USA joined in a \#BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there. Alicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism. ![St Louis Ferguson Protest](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/st_louis_protest.jpg?imwidth=1280) Solidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri Source: Facebook [According](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) to Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice "into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt." In the US in [2014](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/black-lives-matter/6987766) over 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police. The death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter. The group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement. This has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates [Bernie Sanders](http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/bernie-sanders-black-lives-matter_us_55f9ca9ce4b00310edf57b02?section=australia) and [Hilary Clinton](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) in 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later [declared its support](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) for the movement in August 2015. ### The Movement While Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been [accused](https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/) of failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests. The group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities. Alicia Garza told [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) that, "we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.” > We can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire. It was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was [expanded](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) to raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans. Their [website](http://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/) proclaims: > ‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.' 'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’ ![University Of Missouri](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/uni.jpg?imwidth=1280) 2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism. Source: Getty Images This expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates [community groups](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) campaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against [systemic racism](http://www.smh.com.au/world/frustrated-blacks-demand-to-be-heard-20151112-gkxza4.html) in the education system. Students at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism [incited on campus](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/11/09/the-incidents-that-led-to-the-university-of-missouri-presidents-resignation/) such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation. Between the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over [950 demonstrations](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) were organised by various chapters across the USA. ### Global reach A truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination. Geotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were \#BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an [almost daily](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) basis. ![Black Lives Matter Twitter Map](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/map_of_blacklivesmatter.png?imwidth=1280) A map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014 Source: USA Today By August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America. While there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in [opinion pieces](http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/07/if-black-lives-really-matter-in-australia-its-time-we-owned-up-to-our-history) and by [community organisations](http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/video/502557251659/Australians-call-for-Black-Lives-Matter-campaign), for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers. As Alicia Garza [acknowledges](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2) what started as an online outpouring of frustration "is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world." #### [See also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.](http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/unjust-justice) *** Share Tags [Country](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/tag/section/country)[Death in Custody](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/tag/section/death-in-custody)[Police](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tag/subject/police)[Australia](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tag/geography/australia) ## Subscribe to the NITV Newsletter Receive the latest Indigenous news, sport, entertainment and more in your email inbox. ## Follow NITV ## Download our apps - ![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/common/app-icon-news-33003a8.svg)SBS News [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sbs-news/id432849691)[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sbs.worldnewsaustralia) - ![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/common/app-icon-audio-975d5ac.svg)SBS Audio [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sbs-audio/id470808084)[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thisisaim.yourlanguage) - ![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/common/app-icon-on-demand-537b866.png)SBS On Demand [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sbs-on-demand/id542090992)[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sbs.ondemand.android) ## Listen to our podcasts - [![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/nitv/podcast-nitvblak-683db35.png)Take It BlakInterviews and feature reports from NITV.](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/podcastcollection/take-it-blak) - [![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/nitv/podcast-goodways-744291a.jpg)GoodwaysA mob-made podcast about all things Blak life.](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/podcast/goodways) Get the latest with our nitv podcasts on your favourite podcast apps. ## Watch on NITV [![](https://www.sbs.com.au/_next/static/img/nitv/watch-tp-168d44c.jpg)](https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/news-series/the-point) The Point: Referendum Road Trip Live weekly on Tuesday at 7.30pm Join Narelda Jacobs and John Paul Janke to get unique Indigenous perspectives and cutting-edge analysis on the road to the referendum. \#ThePoint Watch now ## Explore SBS - [SBS Home](https://www.sbs.com.au/) - [SBS On Demand](https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand) - [News](https://www.sbs.com.au/news) - [Audio](https://www.sbs.com.au/audio) - [Languages](https://www.sbs.com.au/language/en) - [What's On](https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on) - [TV & Radio Guide](https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/ondemand) - [Food](https://www.sbs.com.au/food) - [Indigenous](https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv) - [Sport](https://www.sbs.com.au/sport) - [Teaching Resources](https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/resources) ## Languages - [Arabic / العربية](https://www.sbs.com.au/arabic) - [普通话 / Mandarin](https://www.sbs.com.au/mandarin) - [廣東話 / Cantonese](https://www.sbs.com.au/cantonese) - [Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese](https://www.sbs.com.au/vietnamese) - [한국어 / Korean](https://www.sbs.com.au/korean) - [See all languages](https://www.sbs.com.au/language/en) ## Contact SBS - [1800 500 727 (toll free)](<tel:1800 500 727>) - [Help Centre](https://help.sbs.com.au/hc/en-au) - Locked Bag 028, Crows Nest NSW 1585 ## Follow SBS - [Copyright](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/copyright/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/privacy-at-sbs/) - [Your online preferences](https://help.sbs.com.au/hc/en-au/articles/7926969248015-Preferences) - [Sales & Advertising](https://www.sbsmedia.com.au/) - [Complaints](https://help.sbs.com.au/hc/en-au/categories/360000162996-General) - [SBS Code of Practice](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/sbs-code-of-practice/) - [SBS Responsible AI Framework](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/sbs-guiding-principles-for-use-of-ai/) - [Careers](https://careers.sbs.com.au/) - [About us](https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/) SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.
Readable Markdown	How did it start? \#BlackLivesMatter was born the day neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted by jury of the murder of unarmed African American student Trayvon Martin. In July 2013, Alicia Garza was watching the news with friends in a Californian bar awaiting the verdict. When it was announced, she told [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/), “it was as if we had all been punched in the gut.” After checking her Facebook feed and becoming disappointed by the responses “blaming black people for our own conditions,” she penned a [post](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) urging the African American community to unite and to put America on notice that “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter”. Her friend and fellow community activist, Patrisse Cullors, responded by creating the hashtag \#BlackLivesMatter. Along with Opel Tometi they started a Tumblr and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/blklivesmatter?lang=en) account, and encouraged their audience to share their stories about why black lives matter. The three women had begun a movement. ![Alicia Garza](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/alicia-garza-lead.jpg?imwidth=1280) Alicia Garza one of the founders of the \#BlackLivesMatter movement. Source: Facebook Increased awareness The use of the hashtag and membership of the movement spread through social media and community organisations, including Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), the group which had initially united the three co-founders. Further deaths including those of Eric Garner in New York in July and later Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, solidified the presence of the movement, and raised increased awareness about the number of deaths of black men at the hands of white police. Over [500 members](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement#sthash.GQBAxg4k.dpuf) from across the USA joined in a \#BlackLivesMatter ‘freedom ride’ to Ferguson to take part in the rallies there. Alicia Garza was surprised to see that many other groups protesting had also adopted the Black Lives Matter hashtag as a rallying cry for their activism. ![St Louis Ferguson Protest](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/st_louis_protest.jpg?imwidth=1280) Solidarity with Ferguson protest in St Louis, Missouri Source: Facebook [According](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) to Travis Gosa, a social science Professor at Cornell University the hashtag spread quickly because it simplified the complex nature of police brutality, racial inequality and social justice "into a simple, easy to remember slogan that fits in a Tweet or on a T-shirt." In the US in [2014](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-07/black-lives-matter/6987766) over 100 unarmed African Americans killed by police. The death in custody of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a switchblade, prompted the Baltimore protests in April, 2015. This incident once again gained international attention to the issue of police violence and the cause of Black Lives Matter. The group has also used tactics such as disrupting large shopping centres during the holidays and challenging political candidates at rallies to gain increased awareness to the movement. This has helped the group gain some political power after meeting with Democratic presidential candidates [Bernie Sanders](http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/bernie-sanders-black-lives-matter_us_55f9ca9ce4b00310edf57b02?section=australia) and [Hilary Clinton](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) in 2015 to discuss police reform, investigations into alleged misconduct and policy measures to counter discriminatory practices. The Democratic National Committee later [declared its support](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) for the movement in August 2015. The Movement While Black Lives Matter has drawn upon some of the heritage of the civil rights movement, it has also been [accused](https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/) of failing to adopt a peaceful approach to making change, particularly after violence and looting during the Ferguson protests. The group has also been keen to move away from a male-centred representation model, instead championing the voices of black women, those with disabilities and queer-identifying communities. Alicia Garza told [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) that, "we want to make sure there is the broadest participation possible in this new iteration of a black freedom movement.” > We can't afford to just follow one voice. We have so many different experiences that are rich and complex. We need to bring all of those experiences to the table in order to achieve the solutions we desire. It was around the time of the Ferguson protests that the movement began to become more organised. The early mission of stopping police violence was [expanded](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) to raising awareness about injustices, both isolated and systematic, against African Americans. Their [website](http://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/) proclaims: > ‘Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.' 'It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.’ ![University Of Missouri](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/uni.jpg?imwidth=1280) 2015: Protests at the University Of Missouri against racism. Source: Getty Images This expanding mission has led to the creation of a grassroots movement of affiliated chapters linked by a common set of goals. This gives each chapter some freedom in its agenda and incorporates [community groups](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-runner-up-black-lives-matter/) campaigning locally against school closures, and for an increase to the national minimum wage, as well as university societies protesting against [systemic racism](http://www.smh.com.au/world/frustrated-blacks-demand-to-be-heard-20151112-gkxza4.html) in the education system. Students at the University of Missouri successfully forced their University President to resign after he failed to address racism [incited on campus](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/11/09/the-incidents-that-led-to-the-university-of-missouri-presidents-resignation/) such as the use of racial slurs against students and swastikas being drawn on walls in student accommodation. Between the Ferguson protests of August 2014 and August 2015, over [950 demonstrations](http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/black-lives-matter-growth-new-social-justice-movement) were organised by various chapters across the USA. Global reach A truly 21st century movement the use of camera phones to video incidents and social media to spread information has helped to shape international conversations about race and discrimination. Geotagging reveals that in late 2014 there were \#BlackLivesMatter tweets on every continent on an [almost daily](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/04/alicia-garza-black-lives-matter/24341593/) basis. ![Black Lives Matter Twitter Map](https://assets.sbs.com.au/drupal/nitv/public/map_of_blacklivesmatter.png?imwidth=1280) A map of geotagged Tweets sent on the 4th December 2014 Source: USA Today By August 2015, the Black Lives Matter Movement had at least twenty-three chapters internationally including groups in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and South America. While there are no chapters in Australia, there have also been calls, in [opinion pieces](http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/07/if-black-lives-really-matter-in-australia-its-time-we-owned-up-to-our-history) and by [community organisations](http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/video/502557251659/Australians-call-for-Black-Lives-Matter-campaign), for a Black Lives Matter movement in light of Australia’s history of discrimination and accusations of racial profiling by police officers. As Alicia Garza [acknowledges](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2) what started as an online outpouring of frustration "is now continuing as a movement that has spread across the world." [See also: Dateline's special report into the death of Kalief Browder - jailed at 16-yearsold in an adult prison in New York for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was held (mostly in solitary) for over three years before being released, and tragically, committed suicide.](http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/unjust-justice)
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