Why are people protesting?

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46 yr old black man was killed

in Minneapolis during an arrest for allegedly using fake money.
A white police officer knelt on George Floyd's neck while he was
handcuffed and lying face down repeatedly saying "I can't breathe”. The
Officer had his knee on George Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46
seconds.
George Floyd died from asphyxiation from sustained pressure resulting
from the officer’s knee and body weight being placed on Floyd's neck,
with other officers kneeling on his back.
 What does BLM stand for?
• The Black Lives Matter movement is an international human rights movement, set up by
Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi in 2013

• The movement began with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after
the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African-American teen
Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

• BLM campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people and protests
against broader issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the
US criminal justice system.
Find out more:
https://www.ted.com/talks/
alicia_garza_patrisse_cullors_and_opal_tometi_an_interview_with_the_founders_of_black_lives_matter
 What has this got to do with me?
It’s just happening in America, right?
• In 2018, 43% of searches in the UK were of black people, while 35.5% were of white people – these figures are
disproportionate to population numbers and highlight institutional and systemic racism. (Source: MOPAC)

• Figures also highlight that police officers are four times more likely to use force against black people than
white people in the UK (Source: BBC)

• The UK Home Office was accused of racism following the Windrush scandal (2018) - when black people who
came to Britain as children were wrongly told they were here illegally and deported or threatened with
deportation.

• The Grenfell fire tragedy in 2017 has raised a lot of unanswered questions regarding how low income BAME
communities are supported and listened to by authorities.
Find out more: ‘Yes, The UK Does Have A Race Problem. And It's Just As Troubling As
America’s’
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/racism-uk/
 Surely all lives matter?
• On the surface, the phrase ‘All Lives Matter’ seems well intentioned,
implying that all lives should be viewed equally but they currently aren’t.
• Perhaps a better way to understand Black Lives Matter is by looking at its
driving phrase as “black lives matter, too.”
• This sentiment was captured in a poster held up by a young protester in
the US. Her placard read: “We said Black Lives Matter. We never said
only black lives matter, we know all lives matter, we just need your help
with #blacklivesmatter because black lives are in danger.”
"The slogan 'Black Lives Matter' does not mean other lives don’t […] It is calling attention to the
fact that society clearly thinks black lives don’t matter” – Billie Eilish.
Find out more: Why You Need to Stop Saying "All Lives Matter”
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a27075028/black-lives-matter-explained/
 Key terms:
• BAME – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic

• Systemic -  is something that affects the whole instead of just parts. When corruption extends
throughout the entire government rather than just one or two people, this is an example
of systemic corruption.

• Institutional racism – a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions.

• White privilege – societal privilege that benefits white people over non-white people. White
privilege doesn’t mean you have not experienced hardship – just not hardship due to the colour of
your skin

Find out more: ‘Janaya Future Khan’s Guide To Understanding White Privilege’
https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/janaya-future-khan-privilege
• How can I be an ally?

• You can challenge inappropriate comments or ‘banter’ amongst your

friends/peers

Report inappropriate comments/behaviour online or in person to school

Continue to educate yourselves and engage in active discussion – ask

questions and engage in wider reading such as that suggested in this
presentation

“Being an ally means recognizing oppression broadly and standing in solidarity with anyone who
experiences oppression — whether or not the ally belongs to a targeted group.”
Carrie Gaffney
The black British history you may not know
about:

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52939694 interesting facts abo

ut
- Interesting facts you might not be aware of

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b082x0h6/black-and-british-a-
forgotten-history
- documentary by the wonderful David Olusoga

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p070rtws a collection of
programmes exploring black history and culture in Britain
Check out interesting articles:

Black Lives Matter Protests Bring Teen Activists Into the Streets
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/black-lives-matter-protests-teens

Stormzy and Garry Neville on how privilege works in 21st Century

Britain
https://theconversation.com/stormzy-and-gary-neville-how-privilege-wo
rks-in-21st-century-britain-130068
Check out podcasts:
• George the Poet

• Reni Eddo-Lodge
Check out Netflix:
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap documentary 

Time: The Kalief Browder Story documentary

When They See Us, crime drama series by Ava DuVernay

13th documentary by Ava DuVernay

LA 92 documentary

Dear White People comedy drama

Check out fiction:
 Protests closer to home
• Over the past few weeks, people in Britain
have been showing their solidarity with the
US Black Lives Matter protests in a number
of ways: from huge rallies in London, to
smaller marches here in Buxton to the
toppling of controversial statues, people
have been using their voices to express
their desire for real change.
• Look at some of the headlines on the
following slide.
Considering all the facts to arrive at an informed
opinion
• Check out the site below which poses the question of whether statues
of controversial figures should be removed from public places. The
debate is put into context and then ideas for and against are offered.

• What is your opinion on this matter? Let your tutor know.

• https://debatingmatters.com/topic/monuments-to-historical-figures-sho
uld-remain/
 Buxton Community School’s values:
• We want everyone to be happy and confident at our school. We should always
treat everyone fairly and with respect
• We want everyone at our school to be caring, polite, considerate and interested
in other people
• We are a learning community where all young people are valued equally
• We believe all our students should develop intellectually, physically, socially,
culturally and morally
• It is important our students learn how to show tolerance and care towards
others and develop the ability to create and sustain healthy relationships
throughout their lives
• We are committed to challenging inequality and injustice to ensure everyone
has an equal opportunity to succeed