Alexandra Wanjiku Kelbert bravely steps forward in the Guardian to defend the actions of Black Lives Matter yesterday, when nine white protestors shut down City Airport.
Why shut down an airport?
Today we are saying that the climate crisis is a racist crisis. On the one hand Britain is the biggest contributor per capita to global temperature change. It is also one of the least vulnerable to the effects of climate change. On the other hand, seven of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in sub-Saharan Africa.
No, Britain isn't the biggest contributor per capita to global temperature change. It used to be, back when it led the Industrial Revolution, but that was a long while back.
Why an all-white protest?
We are coming under fire for the fact that the protesters on the runway today were all white. That is not an accident. Black Lives Matter UK is and has always been black-led. It should not be surprising that black people could pull something like this off. And it should not be surprising that we would be able to find nine white people who believe that black lives matter. There is a need for white people to take responsibility in a society that privileges them through racism and anti-black racism.
Actual black people, when consulted, were less complimentary. "Black Lives Matter protesters can 'f*** ***."
The Guardian comments – those that aren't removed – are not supportive. "What a crock of horseshit." "Complete fucking nonsense." "Utterly pathetic."
One commenter sums it up; "If you can't get support for your stupid protest in the guardian you need to take a long hard look at yourself."
Leave a comment