The Black Lives Matter movement emerged as one of the most significant civil rights campaigns of the modern era, sparked by the tragic death of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and gaining massive momentum after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
The movement was founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. What began as a hashtag quickly evolved into a global phenomenon fighting against racial injustice and police brutality. The movement gained unprecedented support during the Black Lives Matter 2020 protests following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, when a police officer knelt on his neck for over nine minutes. This incident sparked worldwide demonstrations and brought systemic racism to the forefront of public discourse.
In Deutschland and across Europe, Black Lives Matter Proteste gained significant traction, with thousands joining demonstrations in solidarity with the American movement. The movement's symbols and gestures, such as taking a knee and raising a fist, became powerful forms of peaceful protest. Black Lives Matter heute continues to advocate for policy reforms in policing, criminal justice, and racial equality. The movement has achieved several concrete changes, including reforms in police departments across America, increased awareness of systemic racism, and the election of more diverse political representatives. While the intensity of street protests has decreased since 2020, the movement's influence continues through community organizing, policy advocacy, and cultural change. The organization has expanded its focus to address broader issues affecting Black communities, including economic justice, healthcare access, and educational equity, while maintaining its core mission of combating racial injustice and police brutality.
