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The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2012 after the killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. Martin was a 17-year-old black male. His shooter was a white neighborhood watchman named George Zimmerman.

Trayvon Martin, pictured below

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Martin's death had a major impact on America. Then-President Obama spoke about the tragedy and said it was important to let the investigation happen. He noted that if he had a son, he would look like Martin, which sparked outrage among sympathizers of Zimmerman's who claimed he was being treated unfairly. Rumors also spread about Martin being a thuggish boy who had done drugs and been suspended from school for vandalism. White nationalists and the alt-right tried to demonize Martin.

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The National Rifle Association (NRA) supports Stand Your Ground laws, which are meant to allow lawful people to defend themselves and stop potential murderers, rapists, and thieves. Unfortunately, gun laws like that can easily lead to murders. Stand Your Ground laws are much more effective when used by white people against black attackers, with a 17% success rate, but when blacks use it against white attackers, it's only found to be justified 1% of the time.

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Eric Garner was a 43-year-old black man killed by police on July 17, 2014. He died in Staten Island, New York. Garner was a father of six, apprehended by police for allegedly selling cigarettes in front of a store. He put his hands up and asked the officers not to shoot him. Officer Daniel Pantaleo, however, attacked Garner by pulling him to the ground and putting him in a chokehold (which is not allowed by the New York Police Department). Garner had asthma, and he repeatedly said "I can't breathe." An ambulance was called. According to the New York Police Department, Garner died of a heart attack on the way to the hospital. "I can't breathe" is now a rallying cry used by those who support the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Michael Brown was shot and killed on August 9, 2014. Like Trayvon Martin, he was young; Brown died at only 18 years old. Brown was with his friend Dorian Johnson, who was 22. The former was shot by Officer Darren Wilson of the Ferguson Police Department. Wilson claimed a conflict began when Brown allegedly attacked Wilson, who was in his police car, for control of the latter's gun. Johnson said it began because the officer grabbed Brown's neck. After that, Brown and Johnson attempted to flee. Wilson claimed Brown charged towards him soon after; Johnson stated that Brown turned around and raised his hands after being shot at by the officer. Wilson fired 12 bullets during the conflict, resulting in Michael Brown being fatally wounded. His death caused unrest and protests in Ferguson as well as other places.

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The Black Lives Matter movement will likely make lasting change. It has definitely made an impact on America and the way we see gun violence and police brutality. I think the Black Lives Matter protesters will succeed in lessening gun violence. More and more people are campaigning for better police training and less gun violence and Black Lives Matter is being taken seriously.