The Evolution of the Black Lives Matter Movement: The U.S. and Abroad

• In Event: Movements and Democracy in Contemporary Context

Abstract

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement spurred a spike in protests during the summer of 2020 across the US and around the world. In the US, the movement emphasizes its opposition to police brutality and the closeness between law enforcement and the state, and underlines its stance as pro-minority. As a result of these mantles, it finds itself allied with or in opposition to certain actors. As the movement has spread abroad, local martyrs have helped to contextualize the ‘brand’ for local audiences in other countries. And distinct groups have co-opted the mantle as their own, including anarchists, groups preoccupied with anti-US sentiment, and pro-minority groups. This paper takes advantage of new data tracking political violence and protests associated with the BLM movement by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), comparing trends in the movement in the US to other countries around the world.

Authors

• Roudabeh Kishi, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)

• Melissa Jane Pavlik, Yale University