Racism kills here, there and all over the world.

“Racism kills here, there and all over the world.”

Posted outside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, this statement is a testament to the fact that the Black Lives Matter movement has grown from a national protest to a global call for racial justice.  

The Black Lives Movement formed during the summer of 2013, following George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. Black Americans continue to be overrepresented, relative to their proportion of the population, in those killed by the police.  

The U.S. uprising, following the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked worldwide protests including events in London, United Kingdom; Helsinki, Finland; Seoul, Korea; Cape Town, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Palestine. Recent protests in New Zeeland and Australia also brought to light the mistreatment of indigenous people in those countries. 

Jolene Francis, who helped organize a rally in Belfast, Northern Ireland, told the BBC that "There's a history of solidarity between us here in Belfast and the black community in America, and we don't plan on having our voices silenced." 

In Tel Aviv, demonstrators gathered in solidarity with U.S. protesters to shine a light on the deaths of Black Israelis at the hands of police. Protesters also called for justice in the killing of Iyad al-Halak, a 32-year-old Palestinian with autism who was shot by Israeli Border Police, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

I invite you to learn more about the work Community Renewal Society is doing to advance racial justice and demand police accountability. Please support our efforts.  

By Catherine Hegarty
Manager of Development and Communications