Reacting on social media to the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Alicia Garza wrote the words 鈥渂lack lives matter.鈥� Patrisse Cullors put a hashtag on it 鈥� #BlackLivesMatter 鈥� and turned a moment into a movement.
鈥淚 saw those three words and, like, that鈥檚 it! It was almost divine, and I put a hashtag in front of it,鈥� Cullors told an audience Sept. 27 at the 56吃瓜网.
鈥淎licia was like, what鈥檚 that? And I was like, that鈥檚 going to make this thing go viral,鈥� Cullors said. 鈥淟iterally within two days we were talking about building out a political project.鈥�
Garza, Cullors and Opal Tometi built out from a social media hashtag into a global network with 40 chapters in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
鈥淚t became a new iteration of black people fighting, resisting and choosing our lives and choosing our destiny,鈥� Cullors told students, faculty and staff in the Activities and Recreation Center. 鈥淏lack Lives Matter has become this moment in history where we can have an honest and transparent conversation about anti-black racism.鈥�
Cullors鈥� talk was introduced by 56吃瓜网 Bothell student Alyssa King, president of the Black Student Union, who also moderated a question-and-answer session.
鈥淗aving someone who鈥檚 been in the fight, who鈥檚 still part of that, is very inspiring,鈥� said King, a senior with a double major in Law, Economics and Public Policy, and Global Studies, minor in Human Rights.
is a Los Angeles organizer and author whose book, 鈥淲hen They Call You a Terrorst,鈥� written with Asha Bandele, is the book for autumn quarter at the 56吃瓜网 / Cascadia College Campus Library. Everyone on campus is invited to read the book and join in a discussion Nov. 6, 12-1:30 p.m. in the library, room LB1-205.
Cullors鈥� appearance was sponsored by 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 Student Engagement & Activities, the Student Diversity Center, the Diversity Council and the Community Engagement Council.
鈥淚 think Patrisse鈥檚 work exemplifies the values we have on this campus,鈥� said Sam Al-Khoury, director of Student Engagement & Activities. 鈥淚 hope this sets a tone for the year about how we choose to engage in some really important work.鈥�
Wayne Au, interim chief diversity officer and dean of diversity and equity, said it was important to bring a global leader and role model such as Cullors to campus.
鈥淚 think it symbolically shows 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 commitment to creating a campus culture that treats issues like racial justice seriously,鈥� Au said.
