Silencing Hillary Clinton Won’t Get #BlackLivesMatter’s Groove Back...

[Historic NY]

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has achieved monumental success in political activism, success that is nearly impossible to overstate. Nowhere is that success more evident than in the presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton, whose husband symbolizes Democratic weakness in the face of anti-black policies, but who has placed a raft of pro-black policies within shouting distance of the next presidency. They’ve also managed to pressure Hillary’s chief rival into a competition for Most Comprehensive Racial Justice Policies (a competition that Hillary is winning). After decades of trying to reassure America that they’re pro-white too, Democrats are actually campaigning on black issues.

It’s also true that Hillary Clinton began this campaign in a deep hole with Obama coalition voters, a hole that she has worked hard to dig herself out of, but which has left a coating of residual mistrust. That’s why activists will rightly continue to pressure her to stay this course, to follow through on the promises being made.

That’s not really what happened Friday, though, when activists disrupted an African-Americans For Hillary event in Atlanta with chants of “Black Lives Matter!” and a rendition of Janelle Monae‘s “Hell You Talmbout.” Organized by #AUCShutItDown, a group that isn’t affiliated with BLM, the action was explicitly aimed at shutting down Hillary’s speech, not redirecting or reinforcing any specific policy asks.


Hillary Clinton came to the Atlanta University Center and didn’t necessarily reach out to us and speak to us beforehand…
Really........

?@AUCShutItDown
We aren't affiliated w/ the @Blklivesmatter but are an extension of the broader mvmnt. We protested in the name of safety & protection.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/silencing-hillary-clinton-wont-get-blacklivesmatters-groove-back/

[SunSeeker]

1. So the protesters weren't even associated with BLM?

That could explain why the crowd, mostly African American youth, was not being particularly receptive to them.

[Number23]

16. I get the impression that they actually were receptive up to a point

And then it was like, "okay. We are on your side. Now let her talk and let's see what she has to say." That was when John Lewis came over, somewhere between 15-30 minutes after they'd started protesting.

Oh, and man do I LOVE with a capital L how quiet this thread is. This place is gone, absolutely gone.

[oasis]

2. I anticipate a flood of apologies to come in from the anti-Hills.

Who will be the first of them to step forward?

[giftedgirl77]

3. Lolololololol, no way they are too busy trying to play the

victim card.

[oasis]

4. I noticed a sizable uptick in their use of the "sofa hide" smilies.

[giftedgirl77]

5. Passive aggression at it's finest.

[oasis]

6. Sales on these are going through the roof at the local Contrition Outlet.

step right up anti-Hills. No charge for delivery.

[Cha]

9. Exactly, giftedgirl.. the strawman victimhood en masse.

[Truprogressive85]

7. lol

Apologize for what ? that young black people are sick and tired of status quo,the establishment ,and have forced their voice to be heard

Do worry this wont be the the last time you hear from black groups
They will be at other events, rallies, forums,town halls you never know where and when

no politicians is guaranteed votes you have to earn our votes , no more giving away our votes.



FYI : BLM and AUCShutitdown , Dreamdefenders , NYjusticeleague = black liberation , social justice, economic empowerment

support all actions of my brothers and sisters, if its BLM or some other group all candidates shall hear the voice of youth

[oasis]

8. Impressive list, but since there's no mention of "anti-Hill"

it does not apply. My post was directed specifically at those DU posters who yesterday, had a knee jerk reaction to Hillary's response to the protesters.

It was not aimed at the protest group.

[Cha]

10. Hillary was comfortable they were there and her supporters didn't spam the net waves

afterwards spouting conspiracy theories about #BLM

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. I don't want to see BLM turned into a political football.

eom

[oasis]

12. Too late, sad to say. Fox News has labeled BLM a hate group.

Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity nightly fuel the fire on "The Ferguson Effect".

BLM is the target of a propaganda campaign by the right similar to that of Planned Parenthood and Acorn.

[jeff47]

17. WAAAAAAAAAAY too late for that. (nt)

[Skid Rogue]

13. I'm sure most of you have seen this.

Maybe, if we were on the inside of BLM, (I'd love to hear from folks who are) than it's a lot, lot bigger than Bernie, or Hillary. It's just food for thought....

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/black-lives-matter-movement-faces-big-decision-551564355669

[bravenak]

14. They had their reasons I'm sure. She handled it well regardless.

[Number23]

15. Most of the comments from black people I've seen have not understood why BLM

would be interrupting a Clinton or any presidential candidate's speech that was SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED to discuss her policies related to the black community. Most folks have done a over that.

This whole thing is getting weirder and more annoying by the second. I still support BLM to the fullest and could not agree more with this bit of this article:

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has achieved monumental success in political activism, success that is nearly impossible to overstate.

Absolutely. K&R Thanks for posting this.

[sahel]

18. I'm understanding it...

BLM have disrupted events designed for a specifically black audience before, and indeed quite recently. I'm not sure why anyone should be surprised by it:-

http://abc7.com/news/church-leaders-call-for-apology-from-black-lives-matter-group/1052702/

The challenge for BLM is that if they swear off staging disruptions at black events, then politicians will treat those kinds of fora as essentially "safe spaces" and exploit them accordingly. One of the whole arguments for BLM is that established Black groups have become overly comfortable with the Democratic party establishment, and that somebody needed to shake things up.

The other problem for BLM is that Hillary's security have bounced them out of most other events they have tried to attend. This is probably one of the few opportunities for disrupting a Hillary event at all (whether by BLM or some other group).

Swearing off disrupting certain events also opens up a tricky can of worms. If a certain category of events should be safe from disruption, then what about others? What about disability advocates forums? Are disabled people vulnerable and subjugated enough that they should be afforded the chance to speak to presidential candidates unimpeded?

What about womens' groups? Retirees? Etc...