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Note: We applaud this statement by Black Lives Matter. It is essential for movements to be independent of the corporate political duopoly. When we were occupying Freedom Plaza in 2011 we resisted all attempts by Democratic Party operatives to pull Occupy toward the Democratic Party. Of course, there are some who were part of Occupy who are participating in various campaigns, but should be seen as their individual act, not as an act of the movement. The Democratic Party has been where movements go to die and Black Lives Matter was wise to make their independence clear.
– PopRes
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Activists with the Black Lives Matter movement rejected the Democratic Party’s recent statement of support, making clear that they are not affiliated with any political party.
“A resolution signaling the Democratic National Committee’s endorsement that Black lives matter, in no way implies an endorsement of the DNC by the Black Lives Matter Network, nor was it done in consultation with us,” the Black Lives Matter Network wrote in a statement Sunday.
“We do not now, nor have we ever, endorsed or affiliated with the Democratic Party, or with any party. The Democratic Party, like the Republican and all political parties, have historically attempted to control or contain Black people’s efforts to liberate ourselves,” the statement continues. “True change requires real struggle, and that struggle will be in the streets and led by the people, not by a political party.”
At its summer meeting on Friday, the DNC had passed a resolution affirming support for the goals of Black Lives Matter.
“[T]he DNC joins with Americans across the country in affirming ‘Black lives matter’ and the ‘say her name’ efforts to make visible the pain of our fellow and sister Americans as they condemn extrajudicial killings of unarmed African American men, women and children,” the resolution stated.
The Black Lives Matter Network said such a resolution wouldn’t do anything to “bring the changes we seek.”
“Resolutions without concrete change are just business as usual,” the network’s statement reads. “Promises are not policies.”
Black Lives Matter activists recently released a detailed list of specific proposals on law enforcement reform aimed at bringing about “a world where the police don’t kill people.” Many of those ideas — including body cameras, better police training and community oversight — enjoy broad support from the American public at large.
Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been visible on the presidential campaign trail, with candidates struggling to address the movement’s issues and respond to the protesters.