Story #38: Alicia Garza on Calling for Action

“When we started Black Lives Matter, it was indeed written as a love note.” - Alicia Garza

On October 30th, 2015, Alicia Garza, co-founder of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, delivered the 9th Annual Robert Coles "Call of Service" Lecture. In her powerful address at Harvard Memorial Church, Garza shared her insights on social justice, community activism, and the importance of collective service. Garza reflected on the origins of Black Lives Matter as a deeply personal expression of love and grief, sparked by the shock of George Zimmerman's acquittal for Trayvon Martin's murder. She emphasized that the movement arose as a declaration of Black humanity, celebrating resilience while calling for action against systemic racism and asserted that recognizing the dignity of Black lives fosters a transformative struggle for justice. Finally, she expressed gratitude to PBHA for its longstanding commitment to community engagement and honored the legacy of those who have fought for humanity.

Discover Alicia Garza’s powerful speech and her reflections on activism by reading more here.