For a while there, it seemed like “the movement” was on life support. Photos of the weekly die-in at Grand Central Station stopped being posted, Brooklyn hipsters enjoyed their Sunday brunches in peace, and the occasional #BlackLivesMatter banner popped up in odd places, such as the #RightToWork protests in Wisconsin.
It could be said that the #BlackLivesMatter movement started with the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., but before that was the shooting of Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, which led to the founding of groups like the Dream Defenders and demands that states like Florida repeal their “stand your ground” laws.
Remarkably, it’s been three years since Martin was shot and killed by Zimmerman, and supporters again commemorated the event with #thehoodiemarch. Although Martin was shot in Florida by a civilian, the march took place in St. Louis, Mo., and ended at police headquarters.
Traffic blocked? Check.
Marchers were encouraged to bring Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea to the march, with which some build a small memorial in front of the police station.
Again, Trayvon Martin wasn’t shot by a police officer.
