The Black Lives Matter movement has been at the forefront of the fight for racial justice and equality, and its co-founder Patrisse Cullors is not backing down in her efforts to hold the highest levels of leadership accountable. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Cullors blasted President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg, and other officials for their lack of action on defunding the police.
According to Cullors, it is a “failure of leadership” and “deep cowardice” that has allowed the flow of money to continue to go towards law enforcement. The activist stated that officials at all levels, from local government to the President himself, have chosen to side with violent police forces instead of using their power to protect Black lives.
Cullors argued that the recent deaths of Tyre Nichols and Keenan Anderson, her cousin, were indicative of a failure of leadership at the highest level, up to the President himself. Cullors was especially disappointed because the BLM movement played a crucial role in helping Biden become President.
“This movement was able to help get Joe Biden into office, and yet in his first State of the Union address, he yelled: ‘Fund the police,’” Cullors said. The statement received applause from both parties in Congress, but Cullors saw it as a direct affront to the movement that was calling for resources to be shifted away from policing and into social services.
In the interview, Cullors also targeted Secretary Buttigieg, accusing him of not using his position as Secretary of Transportation to lead the conversation about removing law enforcement from traffic stops. Cullors believes that ending routine traffic stops by the police is a crucial step towards safety and a reasonable demand.
Cullors, who stepped down from her position as executive director of BLM amid controversy around her finances in 2021, is a self-described Marxist who has faced criticism for her financial dealings. Despite these criticisms, she remains determined to continue her activism and advocacy for Black lives.
In conclusion, Cullors’ statements have sparked a new wave of controversy and debate over the role of law enforcement and the future of policing in America.
The activist’s powerful words serve as a reminder that the fight for racial justice and equality is far from over, and that leaders must be held accountable for their actions.
