Black Lives Matter Grassroots supports, sustains, empowers, and uplifts the community organizing, educational programs, mass mobilizations and national initiatives undertaken by local Black Lives Matter chapters to advance Black liberation. “Grassroots” was added to the original Black Lives Matter formation in 2019 to distinguish the community-based work and political advocacy carried out by chapter organizers and activists from the financial interests of consultants operating other Black Lives Matter entities.
Abolition
Ending mass incarceration, supporting incarcerated people, and freeing political prisoners
Communications
Leveraging traditional and digital media to amplify social and political issues
Development
Building organizational capacity, developing leadership, and training local chapters
Direct Support & Mutual Aid
Providing support to families and communities directly impacted by state violence
Partnerships
Growing organizational relationships to increase our organizing capacity
Policy Advocacy
Local, state, and national organizing to improve Black-centered policymaking
Direct Action
Organizing mass mobilizations, protests, and demonstrations for social and political change
Healing Justice
Transforming individuals and communities through healing the mind, body, and spirit.
Education
Developing and delivering curriculum and other digital content for collective study
Youth Vanguard
Advancing justice for Black youth through education and leadership development of the next generation
Featured Action
Free Brittany Martin - Black Freedom Fighter and Mama
Brittany Martin is a Black freedom fighter and mama. Like so many, she heeded the call to demand justice for Black people in the wake of a surge in police and racist violence in 2020. Along with hundreds of freedom-loving people, Brittany was a part of a protest in Sumter, South Carolina in the names of #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, #GeorgeFloyd, and countless others.
When confronted by police, the pregnant mother of five, affirmed her love for Black people and made comments that the officer, and later the state, would contend were threats. Brittany was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison. Within the first year of serving her sentence, Brittany was forced to give birth to her youngest child, Blessing, inside, denied the right to mother or breastfeed her infant, had her hair (a religious symbol) forcibly cut, denied attorney visits, been beaten, placed in solitary confinement, and transferred to an out-of-state prison without the knowledge or consent of her family.
Brittany and her family have suffered enough. In a nation that prides itself on freedom of speech, Ms. Martin never should have been arrested or imprisoned in the first place. Brittany’s family, the community, and the nation are calling for the full pardon and immediate release of Brittany Martin.
