President Obama eloquently explained the Black Lives Matter movement on Thursday, specifically speaking to law enforcement officers who feel that the movement somehow diminishes how much blue lives matter.
In addition to the equally condescending and oblivious #AllLivesMatter comeback, many who oppose the #BlackLivesMatter movement have used #BlueLivesMatter as a rebuttal. They have also held #BlueLivesMatter protests to highlight their support for police officers, particularly those lost in the line of duty.
Speaking on the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Obama said that,
To be concerned about these issues is not to be against law enforcement.
The president said that he often receives letters asking him why “not as much emphasis is made” when an officer’s life is lost as there is for the victims of police shootings. Obama said that as a nation, we should always mourn the death of any law enforcement officer. He once again emphasized that there is “no contradiction” supporting police officers and recognizing that there are deeply rooted problems with America’s criminal justice system.
Then, he tried once again to make his point crystal clear:
When people say Black Lives Matter, it doesn’t mean blue lives don’t matter, it just means all lives matter, but right now the big concern is the fact that the data shows black folks are more vulnerable to these kinds of incidents. This isn’t a matter of us comparing the value of lives.
Watch President Obama try to explain #BlackLivesMatter, once again:
Featured image via video screen capture
