Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Black Lives Matter is political group

David Roberts’ letter (online Nov. 24) defended wearing a Black Lives Matter pin while substitute teaching.

He stated that his BLM pin represented morality, is peaceful and is not political or anti-police. However, the official BlackLivesMatter.com website states otherwise.

The website states that “BLM is an ideological and political intervention.” One illustration of its political ideology might be a BLM article defending Fidel Castro, the brutal dictator, and praising him for harboring the escaped convicted murderer of an Arizona state trooper.

The website also states: “We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement…” and calls black poverty genocide and state violence. It seems to me that a moral position – and a step toward alleviating black poverty – would support, not oppose, nuclear families with loving parents providing guidance and structure.

As for being peaceful and not anti-police, who can forget the BLM marchers shouting for “dead cops now” and “pigs in a blanket, fry like bacon?”

I am a middle-aged white male, and I care about every life. We are all God’s children, and I do pray for an end to racial division.

Mr. Roberts, very likely with good intentions, promoted a false narrative to impressionable students.

Eric Van Valkenburg, Clovis

This story was originally published December 10, 2016 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Black Lives Matter is political group."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER