As Guyana celebrates Emancipation Day, the Black Lives Matter-Guyana movement is set to be launched virtually today.
A press release issued by the non-governmental organisation stated that Black Lives Matter Guyana is part of the global solidarity movement to highlight and educate persons, particularly the black community, about issues that still exist “to racially disenfranchise and discriminate against the black person.”
The release noted that the movement aims to advocate for changes in policy and systemic changes for the better however, without prejudice towards any other communities or populations.
Prior to the launch, the organisation has recently undertaken the painting of “Black Lives Matter” road murals in Georgetown, Bartica and New Amsterdam, which it said are to raise awareness and visibility to the cause and further ignite discussions on the history of the black community’s struggle to be free.
The painting of the murals were widely praised on social media platform by Guyanese, although there was also some vocal push back.
Eden Corbin, one of the organisers of the movement, told Stabroek News that he would not respond to the negative things that persons have had to say about the movement as he does not expect everyone to agree with it. “We don’t expect everybody to agree with us and we’re not asking for special treatment, nor do we attempt to create any further racial divide,” he said.
Corbin added that the murals are making a statement to reaffirm the black community in Guyana and around the world. “We remind persons that regardless of whatever evil and whatever bad is meted out to the black community, we will not just sit idly by and take it,” he said while adding that a number of things are planned for the future of the movement, including panel discussions and educational forums that will be shared on the Black Lives Matter Guyana Facebook page.
In its release, the organisation noted that a number of the planned activities to be announced will focus on issues related to the Afro-Guyanese struggle, inclusive of extra-judicial killings, police brutality, black economic suppression and institutionalised racism.
More information about the group can be found on its Facebook page, Black Lives Matter – Guyana.
