Black Lives Matter activists attacked in Minneapolis & why we can’t ignore this
On Monday, Black Lives Matter activists were targeted in Minneapolis after four masked men approached an area where protesters had gathered and began filming. The masked men appeared at the Monday night protest, wearing black ski masks. When they refused to explain why they were wearing the masks, and refused to remove them, they were escorted away from the rally. About half a block from the epicenter of the protests the masked men opened fire, shooting five people.
Thankfully, none of the victims had life threatening injuries, but activists said one person hit in the stomach had to undergo surgery.
Activists said that officers did not properly respond during the shooting and that they had lost trust in the department.
“Despite earlier statements from police about the impending threat from white supremacists, the police instead maced citizen journalists and peaceful protesters” Miski Noor, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, said during a brief news conference on Tuesday. “They made disparaging comments to those at the protests instead of taking the threat seriously. We reiterate that we have zero faith in this Police Department’s desire to keep our community safe.”
Even after the attack, the protesters’ dedication didn’t sway. On Tuesday, activists took to the streets again, marching through downtown Minneapolis while handing out candy, pizza, and fried chicken.
As a community, this is something we have to pay attention to, show our support, and stand alongside Black Lives Matter. Queer people, no matter if they are black or not, know what it is like to be marginalized, persecuted, beaten, broken, and even killed. We share similar struggles from the same oppressor.
It’s not uncommon to hear, “we have our own struggles to deal with.” This is fundamentally wrong. Comparing our own battles to the other marginalized groups causes a riff in an already unstable ground. For years, both the queer and black communities have been struggling. We have been painted as prime examples of American unacceptability.
Our histories share similar timelines. Both burned at the stake for simply existing. Both faced marriage discrimination. Both face the discrimination and ignorance surrounding HIV. Both turned away from businesses, not because of our merit, but because we represented the disgusting. To our oppressors, they were keeping us in our place and protecting their ideal America.
So as we both fight for equality, we have to do so together. Not only do our communities share members, but we share the battle. They are trying to silence us. They are trying to belittle us. They are trying to kill us. By standing together, not only do we scare them, we pose a serious threat. We have to welcome each other ceremoniously, and start making changes on both fronts.
