By Dominic LoVallo
Managing Editor
My name is Dominic LoVallo. I am white, male, straight and money was never an issue for my family. If I was Christian and not Agnostic, I would reside only in the majority. With all that being said, I believe in the Black Lives Matter movement.
One of the first responses some people have to “black lives matter’ is that “all lives matter”. The response to that is, “Yes, all lives should matter, but certain lives don’t compared to others.”
The reality is that right now in this country: black lives, gay lives, Muslim lives, poor lives, women’s lives, Trans lives, Latino lives and now I’d even say blue lives (police officers) don’t matter. Instead, every single one of these groups are in some way being held to a lesser value than that of the wealthy majority or being demonized in some way.
The reason I believe in the Black Lives Matter movement is the same reason I consider myself a feminist. I stand for equal rights. The Black Lives Matter movement is a feminist movement and vice versa. Where in the title of either movement does it say, “Only black lives matter” or “only women’s lives matter?”
The Black Lives Matter movement is a group who takes it upon itself to protest when a group or individual has been oppressed or unfairly treated in some way.
Now like any group, there are radical members who take what they hear to an extreme and believe that the best way to protest is with rioting and violence, but the Black Lives Matter movement is best received and best heard when it is protested passionately, yet peacefully.
The Black Lives Matter movement was not created to battle white people or police officers even though some believe that is the reason for its origin. Instead, Black Lives Matter was created to battle racism, inequality and police brutality.
Now with everything I have said so far, I am not saying white people should be demonized. I don’t want to be demonized. The same with police officers. I know a lot of police officers thanks to my parents, and they are all wonderful people. The Black Lives Matter movement is not about demonizing the majority or those in positions of authority. Black Lives Matter is about making sure the voices of the usually voiceless can now be heard.
lovalldv15@bonaventure.edu
