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This summer, the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) is spending part of Black August with our Martha’s Vineyard Community! As an ecosystem of more than 200 member organizations all over the country, we know that wherever Black people live and gather, we’re building and deepening community, creating joyful experiences, and organizing for power. And while we know that it’s not easily accessible for many of our people, Martha’s Vineyard is a place with deep roots and strong ties to the protracted struggle for Black liberation—so it’s a place that deserves our presence.
In the decade since Mike Brown’s murder and M4BL’s founding, we’ve faced some deeply painful losses, but we’ve also achieved tremendous wins across progressive movements fighting for systemic change. M4BL not only imagines a better future for our people—we also develop innovative policy, on-the-ground activations, poignant storytelling, and radical solidarity to make that future possible. The work of this movement has created lasting change on such issues as reproductive justice, policing, incarceration, climate, and so much more. And we’re just getting started!
So, as we celebrate and reflect on ten years of movement-building, M4BL is excited to host a slate of events in honor of all that Black people have won and all we know will be won in the years to come. Check out what we’re offering below and learn how to support our essential work! You’ll also get a peak at our M4BL@10 celebration planning and everything we’re gearing up to do in the next ten years. Sign up to stay up to date on our events at m4bl.link/M4BLonMV. We hope to see y’all on the island.
August 9, 2014, is a date that changed the world. On that date, a police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, Jr., in Ferguson, MO, leaving his body on the ground for four hours. Thousands of people took to the streets in Ferguson, which led millions to mobilize around the globe in defense of Black lives. It was during this time that the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) was conceived.
Members of M4BL and members of the Martha’s Vineyard community will convene early Friday morning at Inkwell Beach to participate in a water ritual in remembrance of Mike Brown and all those we’ve lost to state-sanctioned violence. The event will be facilitated by long-time strategist and movement builder Makani Themba. Guests will also hear from M4BL leaders Montague Simmons and Ash-lee Woodard Henderson about the significance of August 9, and from local leaders working to combat the state-sanctioned killing of our people. Attendees are encouraged to bring an offering of fruit or flowers for the ritual.
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Join us as we officially kick off our time on the island at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. We’re hosting a dynamic conversation focused on honoring the stories, impact, and legacy of transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and queer (TGNCIQ) creatives! Award-winning journalist, author, and host Tre’vell Anderson will moderate a conversation with writer, editor, and transgender-rights activist Raquel Willis, as well as civil- rights attorney, content creator, and podcast host Tashira Halyard. Together, they will discuss the powerful impact TGNCIQ people have had on media and culture, and how our movement has created space for more robust and authentic Black TGNCIQ storytelling over the past ten years.
Award-Winning Journalist, Author and Host
Writer, Editor, and Transgender-Rights Activist
Attorney, Activist, and Influencer
Hosted by M4BL’s Co-Executive Director and long-time movement activist and strategist, M Adams, this gathering is the anchor of M4BL’s slate of events. Guests will hear remarks from M4BL members, staff, and supporters from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation about the ecosystem’s core priorities, including the People’s Response Act and the national campaign. Guests will also learn how, together, we’ll continue changing Black people’s material conditions through the building of political, social, cultural, and people -power. Attendees will have the chance to view a part of M4BL’s Living Museum, which includes artifacts and memorabilia from the past ten years of our work.
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Last Friday, we commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Ferguson Uprising and the murder of Mike Brown. This afternoon, M4BL is hosting a panel discussion featuring Chelsea Fuller, Montague Simmons, and Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, three leaders whose work has aided in building and sustaining the movement over the past decade. From electoral strategy and reproductive justice, to climate change and policy work, the panel will share lessons learned and their visions for the future of Black movement.
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Senior Director of Communications, M4BL
Director of Strategic Partnerships, M4BL
Co-Executive Director, M4BL
Organizer, Activist, Movement Strategist
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To learn more about the expansive work of M4BL and our Vision for Black Lives, visit us at m4bl.org and follow us on our socials!
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