By Vivian Kane | Celebrity | July 19, 2015 |
By Vivian Kane | Celebrity | July 19, 2015 |
This past Friday was the one year anniversary of the death of Eric Garner. Hundreds of protesters came out in New York to remember and mourn and to remind us that the world isn’t done calling bullshit on the decision to not indict the police officer who killed Garner. Previously proven Internet King Matt McGorry of Orange Is the New Black and How To Get Away With Murder took to Twitter to voice his support of the protesters.
Everyone protesting in NY tonight, your bravery is inspiring. Please stay safe and peaceful #EricGarner #BlackLivesMatter #StillCantBreathe
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
However, a whole lot of people still take umbrage with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, because how dare a group of people talking about issues specific to them not explicitly include white people in their mission statement. And so McGorry’s simple show of support turned into something much bigger. In response to someone questioning whether he doesn’t think ALL lives matter, McGorry did that thing he does so well: Explain a beautiful opinion with kindness and eloquence, but no patience for bullshittery.
Yes but unfortunately lumping in ants, flowers, Black people, and every other life doesn't make for effctve protest https://t.co/7gfxEk8spg
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(1) For people who think they are being more inclusive by saying #AllLivesMatter in response to #BlackLivesMatter , they are in reality
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(2) (un)consciously undermining the purpose of the movement because THIS particular movement is about SPECIFIC issues, as any decently
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(3) effective movement is. For example, it's hard to have an effective protest that's about gender equality, animal rights, racial equality,
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(4) and saving the environment because that's not how getting shit done works. But I've never seen #AllLivesMatter promoted by someone who
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(5) actually fights for social justice. So someone getting up in arms bc of #BlackLivesMatter while they sit on the sidelines and do little
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(6) to nothing for Black lives or anyone's other than their own is probably not actually promoting that "All Lives Matter (Equally)" as
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(7) much as they're trying to take down the idea that #blacklivesmatter" and denying its necessity and value. So. Show me the person who
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(8) spends their life fighting for all lives ACTUALLY mattering and who says #AllLivesMatter and I'll show you a world where people are
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(9) treated like they actually do (neither of those things as far as I've seen). Now I don't know much about all of this but I know enough
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
(10) to not consciously or unconsciously undermine a very needed movement that promotes EQUALITY. #BlackLivesMatter #EricGarner
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
He also offered up the greatest analogy we’ve ever heard on the subject.
#BlackLivesMatter doesn't mean other lives don't. Like people who say "Save The Rainforests" aren't saying "Fuck All Other Types of Forests"
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 18, 2015
Oh, and if you still don’t like what he has to say?
Strange. I can't hear your bigotry over the sound of you being blocked.
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 20, 2015