BLM

[SCBlu]

Does anyone know how BLM the organization is funded?

Great question Lighthouse. I've got my ideas but perhaps someone on this board who actively supports BLM could answer your question.

[Joneslab]

Does it begin with an s and end with an s, perhaps?

That might be true...but it sounds like Fox News paranoia.

I’d say most who support BLM never do so monetarily.

[Spiritof96]

There’s a lot of gray area in many of these shootings but the Michael Brown situation was one of the worst to me. Heartbreaking.

Why? Michael Brown from Ferguson correct? Dude committed a strong arm robbery, broke a cops orbital bone, and reached into the car to gain control of the gun.

None of those facts are in dispute. Unless that blood inside the car, x-ray, and store surveillance camera are all suspect.

The starting false narrative might have been heartbreaking, but in the end, there was NOTHING inappropriate about that shoot.

[SCBlu]

So if blm has a mission statement about a village approach then why do they only care about the village depending on how a villager dies and by what race he dies? Some of the mission statement is bologna. I would love to see a proactive rather than a reactive organization.

The irony of this BLM ""village" approach is that BLM and ANTIFA are destroying these villages in Portland, Seattle, Chicago and elsewhere.

[Spiritof96]

Does anyone know how BLM the organization is funded?

From Wikki so beware...

Movement For Black Lives (M4BL)


Politico reported in 2015 that the Democracy Alliance, a gathering of Democratic-Party donors, planned to meet with leaders of several groups who were endorsing the Black Lives Matter movement.^[38] According to Politico, Solidaire, the donor coalition focusing on "movement building" and led by Texas oil fortune heir Leah Hunt-Hendrix, a member of the Democracy Alliance, had donated more than $200,000 to the BLM movement by 2015.^[38] In 2016, the Ford Foundation announced plans to fund the M4BL Movement For Black Lives in a "six-year investments" plan, further partnering up with others to found the Black-led Movement Fund.^[39][40][41]

The sum donated by the Ford Foundation and the other donors to M4BL was reported as $100 million by The Washington Times in 2016; another donation of $33 million to M4BL was reportedly issued by the Open Society Foundations.^[42][43]

[SCBlu]

There’s a lot of gray area in many of these shootings but the Michael Brown situation was one of the worst to me. Heartbreaking.

That one to me looked a lot like George Floyd. I actually think the Blake and Taylor shootings are probably more complex.

Of course with these things we’re all just reading articles so we don’t have the whole story. I do think it’s a major problem in the black community of black men being generally harassed by cops. I have black relatives who say that. Just a few weeks ago a black Republican senator said it. I think it’s a legitimate problem that might spill over into violence if the conditions are right.

Will. Have you not seen the violence, burnings, property destruction, lootings, and killing that has plagued many cities this summer? It began spilling into violence months ago -- and continues today!

[Joneslab]

Will. Have you not seen the violence, burnings, property destruction, lootings, and killing that has plagued many cities this summer? It began spilling into violence months ago -- and continues today!

I haven’t seen a lot of that, no. I know it’s happening though because it’s happened here in Louisville. I’ve heard people say they’re burning our city down and that’s just not true.

[Joneslab]

Why? Michael Brown from Ferguson correct? Dude committed a strong arm robbery, broke a cops orbital bone, and reached into the car...

Was under the impression that the robbery video had been challenged? I thought they believed Brown and the store owner were engaged in a marijuana transaction.

The heartbreaking part of that incident to me was simply how it played out and the walking in the middle of the street thing. I read some grand jury testimony and while it wasn’t crystal clear, it painted a picture of an officer who was ill-equipped to handle an incident like that.

I do feel for these cops though and as I said, there’s so much complexity. We need more compassion for the victims and the good cops IMO.

[teamchemistry15]

I haven't read this entire thread, but I don't understand how fans who turn on TV or show up to games to support our athletes, many of whom are black, can be upset with Cal or the football team walking out of practice. The black community is facing issues from the system (I don't believe it's a racial issue. I think people confuse stereotypical with racist) and, while some of the issues are due to factual evidence, the system flaws are reflected on the majority of their community which includes those not responsible for the evidence against them. The coaches and team supporting the fight to find a solution is no different than them doing things like raising money for earthquake relief, hurricane relief, washing people's feet, or any other charity work they've done. The bottom line is these athletes have a platform that allows them to reach a lot of people and they're doing it in a positive manner. You aren't seeing them getting arrested for rioting downtown, they are exercising their constitutional rights. I'm not sure what walking out of practice or the coaches making a video will do, but it at least got people talking about it. Without those actions would we have this nine (and growing) page thread in the basketball forum? No chance. It never hurts to walk a mile on someone else's shoes, and I would highly recommend all of those who feel so strongly against the team or coaches for making statements to make an attempt to educate themselves from a neutral standpoint. The BLM organization is something I find sketchy (to keep it polite) and in no way support, but not understanding that we have social issues in this country that need to be resolved is nothing more than shallowness from a self centered point of view.

[teamchemistry15]

Was under the impression that the robbery video had been challenged? I thought they believed Brown and the store owner were engaged in a marijuana transaction.

The heartbreaking part of that incident to me was simply how it played out and the walking in the middle of the street thing. I read some grand jury testimony and while it wasn’t crystal clear, it painted a picture of an officer who was ill-equipped to handle an incident like that.

I do feel for these cops though and as I said, there’s so much complexity. We need more compassion for the victims and the good cops IMO.

I think where the entire thing loses a lot of merrit is what you just said. The police are often in situations they are ill-equipped to handle and when they make mistakes they are labeled racist. Are there racist people in law enforcement? I'm sure. But a lack of training doesn't equal racist. Realistically, police officers need active training in social work, counseling, deescalation, Jiu-Jitsu, they should all be EMTs at a minimum, and they all need TONS more firearm retention and training. But, all of that costs a lot of money, and a better quality/more educated employee typically means a higher salary, and throwing a bigger budget at law enforcement isn't going to go over well right now.

[Joneslab]

^ Good post.

I think we fight so many political battles nowadays that sometimes we seek them out when they aren’t there. I’m deeply alarmed by how tuned in to politics Americans suddenly are, and in many ways it has turned us against one another. It’s almost like every hill is one folks are willing to die on.

[40bill]

No 'good' fatalities from shootings. The Brown shooting was investigated by local, state and federal authorities and they all found that the evidence and reliable witnesses supported the officer. Although Blake has survived being shot multiple times, we shouldn't forget people are making a martyr out of a guy that was violating a restraining order showing up at the house where his alleged sexual assault victim lived. Once again, he decided to fight...which makes me wonder about the state of a man who would do this.
I've had the misfortune of knowing a couple cops that were only different from thugs in that the cops had a badge. I've known a lot more that were solid guys, and deserve none of the heat that's fallen.
the FBI statistics on deadly police shootings are pretty plain and DO show a disproportionate number of black men compared to total population killed. It also shows a monstrous number if violent crimes committed by that minority...vastly on black americans.
but defund the police?
listen to local and national politicians and media blame the police?
sorry Will...you're a brilliant guy and great writer, but we see this different.

[teamchemistry15]

^ Good post.

I think we fight so many political battles nowadays that sometimes we seek them out when they aren’t there. I’m deeply alarmed by how tuned in to politics Americans suddenly are, and in many ways it has turned us against one another. It’s almost like every hill is one folks are willing to die on.

The problem is that the hill most are willing to die on is built based on what is against their neighbor rather than for themselves. It goes with something I tell a lot of people when it comes to the UK/UL rivalry. A lot of fans dislike the rival school more than they like their own school. If people would spend more time learning more about their own players and schedule than worrying about when their rival might lose their next game I think the world would be a better place. The hill you are willing to die on should be more pro (insert idea or belief) than against (insert idea or belief)

[Westtncat]

Will. Just to give you some context. The damage from riots in 2020 is a little over a billion dollars at the moment.

[Joneslab]

sorry Will...you're a brilliant guy and great writer, but we see this different.

That’s fair. If we all agreed it’d be a boring world.

Here’s a thing about me that’s important: I’ve always been interested (and at times outraged) by racial injustice because I encountered a lot of racism growing up from whites in my eastern Kentucky hometown. I don’t want to exaggerate it but it was a lot.

It soured me a little on my fellow man. I’ve cut ties with a few people because of it. It has jaded me a bit. I tend to see some racism where most whites maybe give a pass.