Three words that shocked the consciousness of the World – #BlackLivesMatter is turning 10 years old on July 13th. That day a decade ago, following George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the homicide of Trayvon Martin — the first protest in the name of BLM took to the streets in the heart of LA’s Crenshaw community.

Inside the same production house where the late revolutionary activist Michael Zinzun broadcasted his Message to the Grassroots — Dr. Melina Abdullah Ph.D., the national director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, recently spoke with The Conversation Live with her very one message about the movement not being a moment.

Abdullah opened up about the lawsuit against the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the recent deaths of political prisoner Mutulu Shakur, the upcoming BLM People’s Justice Festival, and the many accomplishments of the historic organizations.

120 months later there’s been little justice while the nation seems Abdullah less interested in peace from an emboldened white supremacist unhooding plain sight.

One tactic deployed by the right has been inducing mainstream media complicity in propagating misinformation and peddling disinformation. Abdullah candidly set the record straight.

Black Lives Matter Grassroots — Is Black Lives Matter

Abdullah began by explaining the difference between Black Lives Matter Grassroots and the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. “Black Lives Matter Grassroots is Black Lives Matter,” she said. “What we mean by that is when most people think of Black Lives Matter, they think of a movement on the streets, they think of people challenging unjust systems like violent policing, they think about us advocating in the schools, they think about standing 10 toes down for Black people. That’s what Black Lives Matter Grassroots is. We have 33 chapters, all around the world. And we do this work because we love our people. And we know that our people have a right to freedom and liberation, and we will make it so.”

Lawsuit Against the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation

Abdullah then discussed the lawsuit against the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. “In September of 2022, we filed a lawsuit to get back our resources, our dollars, our platforms, and our good name,” she said. “The global network Foundation, which has several very high-priced attorneys, former US attorneys, a former Hillary Clinton attorney, on their payroll, filed something called an anti-SLAPP motion, which would have prevented our lawsuit from moving forward. The judge, unfortunately, did not rule in our favor. And so our lawsuit was not permitted to proceed.”

Abdullah said that Black Lives Matter Grassroots is still weighing its options about filing an appeal or other legal measures. “But one thing’s for certain, no matter what – the work moves forward, and Black Lives Matter, grassroots is committed to doing that work,” she said.

Death of Mutulu Shakur

Abdullah then spoke about the recent deaths of Mutulu Shakur. “Baba Mutulu has been a political prisoner for many, many years. For decades,” she said. “Baba Mutulu, when I just spoke of Healing Justice, he is the founder of Healing Justice. That’s his work. His life’s work was as an acupuncturist. Everybody calls him Doc, and he was a political prisoner for many, many years. He was released from prison seven months ago (December 22, 2022) and was working on healing justice. And he passed away recently. And it was a huge loss for our community.”

The People’s Budget

Grassroots is taking a holistic approach to the societal issues facing Los Angeles. Earlier this year, LA Mayor Karen Bass was summoned to the Center for Black Empowerment at BLM LA’s headquarters and presented with ‘The People’s Budget.’ The campaign is an important step for the Black Lives Matter organization because it gives the community a voice in how their city’s budget is spent. The campaign shows that people want to see their tax dollars go to housing, after-school programs, and mental health resources, instead of policing.

The campaign is also important because it challenges the idea that policing is the only way to keep our communities safe. There are many other ways to create safe communities, such as investing in social programs and education.

The Black Lives Matter organization is aiming to accomplish several things with the People’s Budget campaign. First, they want to show that there is a demand for change. Second, they want to put pressure on the city to make changes to the budget. Third, they want to start a conversation about how to create safer communities without relying on policing.

The People’s Budget campaign is a significant step forward for the Black Lives Matter organization and the city of Los Angeles. It is a way for the community to have a say in how their city is run, and it is a way to challenge the status quo.

Here are some of the specific goals of the People’s Budget campaign:

● Reduce the city’s reliance on policing by 50%.

● Invest in social programs and education.

● Create more affordable housing.

● Improve access to mental health resources.

The People’s Budget campaign is a long-term project, but it is already making a difference. The city has already made some changes to the budget in response to the campaign, and the campaign is continuing to build momentum.

#BLMturns10 The People’s Justice Festival

Abdullah also spoke about the upcoming People’s Justice Festival. “The festival is a free, family-friendly event that will take place on July 15th in Los Angeles Leimert Park Village,” she said. The day-long event concludes with a keynote address from Green Party Presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West. “The festival will feature music, speakers, workshops, and more. It’s a chance for us to come together as a community and celebrate Black joy and resilience.”

Before Dr. West takes to the mic, the program is packed with notables from the social justice sphere. According to a press release the rally is a full-spectrum event, featuring Ms. Sybrina Fulton – the mother of #TrayvonMartin, Elaine Brown, Janaya ‘Future’ Khan, Dr. Greg Carr, Professor Jody Armour, Queen Yonasda, and Dr. Melina Abdullah, with hosts Tavis Smiley and Dominique DiPrima from KBLA 1580, Van Lathan, and BLM Atlanta organizer Porch’se Miller will also share MC’s duties throughout the day. Performances from Nailah Porter, Pastor Cue, Yazmin Monet Watkins, Jimetta Rose DJ Domina, TYNACITY [THAT DJ], ISSAMAU, Kayo, Tiffany Rachal, the Fernando Pullum Youth Band, and

Leimert Park Village will be filled with seven “activation” sites, including Survivor Families Garden, Study & Struggle, Skill-Building, Youth Organizing, Healing Justice, the Black Fantastic stage, and Solidarity Space. Dozens of families of those killed by state-sanctioned or white-supremacist violence and all 26 BLM Grassroots chapters will join from around the country. There will be a children’s village and community vendors under the vibrant energy of Black liberation. Thousands are anticipated to attend.

Abdullah concluded by saying that Black Lives Matter Grassroots is committed to continuing the work of the movement. “We’re going to keep fighting for justice for Black people,” she said. “We’re going to keep fighting for liberation for Black people. And we’re going to keep fighting until we win.”

Watch the full episode of The Conversation Live (CLICK HERE)