About the BLM accomplishments. Last week the sermon spoke to the BLM (Black Lives Matter) record of non-violence, and its self-discipline.
We spoke of BLM-led demonstration following the George Floyd murder ranged somewhere from 15 million participants, to 26 million. That’s a big range, produced by large polling differences:
- The Pew poll reported an estimated 16 million
- NORC reported an estimated 18 million
- Civis Analytics reported an estimated 23 million
- Kaiser Family Foundation reported an estimated 26 million
Even if we cut those estimates in half, or even by 2/3rds, these are fantastic numbers for a semi-spontaneous outpouring. The Women’s March in 2017, which was highly organized, and in which many of us participated, had a turnout of 3 to 5 million.
BLM has achieved a power and status that I have woefully underestimated. It may now be the largest such movement in U.S. history.
In addition to the millions who answered the call following Floyd’s murder, BLM raised $90 million dollars in 2020, and is investing in the grassroots. Of the $90 million, it is sharing a quarter of that with BLM chapters, and local organizations. This is almost three times the industry norm.
BLM has become international, with groups in Canada and the United Kingdom, both of which have their own problems with discrimination.
Rev. Leland Bond-Upson
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