As coronavirus cases spike nationally, Black Lives Matter plans more rallies, marches

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As coronavirus cases spike nationally, Black Lives Matter plans more rallies, marches

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Though coronavirus cases are surging in some parts of the United States, many Black Lives Matter activists are nonetheless planning sizable rallies in the near future, defying public health concerns in favor of continuing what has become a month-long streak of aggressive public activism.

The surge in coronavirus cases in some parts of the country — especially Texas, Arizona and Florida — has brought with it renewed fears that any form of reopening states after months of lockdowns will bring a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

The governors of Texas and Florida imposed fresh restrictions on residents this week in response to rising cases in their states, while other governors such as Washington's Jay Inslee mandated that all state residents must wear face masks while out in public.

In spite of those mounting concerns, multiple chapters of Black Lives Matter across the country are still planning rallies and marches, even as officials urge residents to refrain from gathering in large groups.

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One chapter, Black Lives Matter Michigan, is hosting a "protest & rally" at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on Monday. That event promises "community visioning, education, and mobilization to #DefendBlackLives." Its Facebook page shows nearly 600 confirmed attendees and 2,800 "interested" in attending,

The event urges attendees to create signs with slogans on them such as "defund the police," "invest the funds in the Black community," and "declare racism a public health emergency in Michigan."

In Minneapolis, meanwhile, a consortium of groups including the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter, has planned for a July 12 rally called the "National Mother's March." The group specifically invites "families (mothers, fathers, grandmothers, Aunts, Uncles, sisters, brothers spouses, significant others anyone) that have lost loved ones to police violence" to attend.

An "educational gathering" taking place that weekend will offer participants a host of workshops on subjects such as "the history and role of the police in US society;" "tools for organizing against police violence;" "DO’s and DON’T’s of organizing for families dealing with a more recent loss of a loved one;" and numerous other topics.

In Philadelphia on Sunday, a "Rally for Political Prisoners" will take place in the city's Malcolm X Park. That event, which will be co-hosted by Black Lives Matter Philly and six other groups, has just over 200 confirmed attendees, though nearly 1,000 more are "interested" in going.

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