Black Lives Matter vs. Blue Lives Matter

by Selena Sherwood

​Recent confrontations between police and African Americans have

caused a new movement to be brought about in response to the

Black Lives Matter campaign. The similarly named Blue Lives

Matter, which promotes the ending of violence and death in

people in the police field. Now, protecting lives of the men and

women in blue is a very important issue, but, this response puts

out the wrong message entirely. The Black Lives Matter

movement is not an attack on police, it’s a cry to end police

brutality and corruption of the system that has taken away many

innocent people. They stand up equality, not power over the law.

Bills are being voted on across the country in support of the Blue

Lives Matter movement, making an attack on a police officer seen

as a hate crime and giving those sentenced longer jail time. In

theory, these laws would be a great idea, but, it goes against all

the Black Lives Matter supports are fighting for, equality. Many

officers have shot and killed innocent men and women and got no

significant punishment. Another problem is that the name implies

they’re at odds, but at heart, both sides are both looking for

justice. This is uncatchable when without equal and fair

punishment. Wrongful death will always happen, but with 154

African Americans kill by police this year alone, something needs

to change.

My town and many like it have been put at odds on this issue. A

common argument I hear is that a uniform makes an officer a

walking target, but, at least their target is only skin deep.