"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr.

These words were said by one of the, if not the, most well-known Civil Rights activists. Little did he know, 52 years after his death, people would still be protesting.

On May 25, 2020, an unarmed Black American, George Floyd, was wrongfully murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. This sent America into protests that span from the Pacific to the Atlantic, reaching every single state. Celebrities and the general public have taken their voice and opinions to their social media platforms over the past week and will accept nothing less than change.

But how much do people know about the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter, and the protests that are happening today? Here's some history for you.

The Civil Rights Movement

Historically, the Civil Rights Movement lasted from the late 1940s until the mid-1960s, though people of color in America have been fighting their whole lives. From the Little Rock Nine to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the road to equality has been nothing close to "peaceful". Black Americans have faced violence throughout their entire existence in all of American history, and it has never come to a stop.

In May of 1961 the "Freedom Riders", consisting of both people of color and whites, fought peacefully against the law of having segregated bus terminals by taking a bus tour of the south. They were met with violence from protesters, some of which threw a bomb into the bus on Mother's Day, and police forces, and later under the rule of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, they had police escorts. Later in Mississippi, the riders were arrested for trespassing on a white-only property. Though they spent a month in jail, their ride brought hundreds of more to their cause.

A few years later, in early March of 1965, about 600 people partook in a peaceful march to protest the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a civil rights activist, by a white police officer. The governor of Alabama at the time, George C. Wallace, ordered police forces to stop the protesters at any and all costs. After tear-gassing and brutally beating the protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the day became known as "Bloody Sunday".

While the Civil Rights Movement did have many peaceful protests, such as The March on Washington, and many peaceful leaders, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, there are many cases where it was not peaceful. Though always starting out peacefully, many people acted with hate and violence towards protesters and leaders, even assassinating people such as Martin Luther King Jr.

Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has been around since 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted for the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Since then, Black Lives Matter has rallied and protested for, now 7 years against people of color being the main targets of violence.

The movement has now grown globally, extending into Canada and the United Kingdom. The organization helps and supports all people of color no matter the gender, sexuality, or possible disability to strive for equality in the Black community. Whether it is visible to the eye, the Black Lives Matter organization has been at every major protest and rally to represent their people.

According to the Black Lives Matter's website, their mission is to "eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes". They also work towards "a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise".

George Floyd Protests

Since May 26, 2020, protests have been the headline throughout all major cities in America (even one in State College), and have even begun in different countries around the world. People of every race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality have come together to fight racial injustices in America, including many well-known celebrities, such as Ariana Grande, Halsey, Ben Affleck, Timothee Chalamet, Nick Cannon, Cole Sprouse, among many others.

While many protests are peaceful with people coming together for the future of the country, some end up in violence. In Minneapolis, where the murder took place, many riots broke out across the city. Here, angry protesters were burning down buildings, such as the police precinct, while also damaging many businesses, ranging from small owned to major companies like Target. Police forces then tear-gassed and shot rubber bullets at the rioters, causing the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, to call in the National Guard.

Minnesota is not the only city that has brought in the U.S. troops to use as a barrier against the protesters. More of the National Guard has been called in by President Trump as reinforcement in the capital city. President Trump has also threatened the use of the military to the rest of the country if the rioting and protests do not stop. It is in every American's constitutional right to a peaceful protest, as reads the First Amendment.

Even if people are not physically going to protests, social media has played a major role in these protests. Since the murder of George Floyd, everyone has been on all social media platforms to promote Black Lives Matter and the ending of police brutality/racial injustice. This has ranged from posting ways to help donate for Black Lives Matter to having a national "blackout Tuesday" on Instagram where people posted black boxes.

On June 3, 2020, Former officer Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and the other 3 officers are also being charged.

Since the Civil Rights Movement, people of color have been fighting for an end to racial injustices all across America. While it is known to be peaceful, in many cases they had, and still have, to literally fight for their rights as Americans, and more importantly as humans.

In times like these, it is very important to stay educated and well-informed on all fronts. There are many sources that are extremely helpful and useful to gain more information to learn more about oppression and the Civil Rights Movement. Even just looking at local news and staying up to date is very helpful.