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Counter arguments

to the statement "All Lives Matter"

By Peach Verdi PietersenPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Small changes, for big issues.

I keep hearing people say "All Lives Matter", there has been more than one protest arranged by this group of people; who are counterparting Black Lives Matter.

We are by no means in disagreement that all lives do in fact matter. We are merely just switched on to the fact that all lives are not at risk right now. Although, there are several individual groups; that are at immediate risk or significantly higher than that of others. So, when I hear someone say something as daft as All Lives Matter, I have no choice to clap back with something equally as daft. The focus currently was on issues surrounding police brutality and systematic racism but since you're concerned about everyone, we will let you pick a place to start.

In your half assed construction of your movement, did you consider Palestinian's? Taking in to consideration the fact that they are being forced out of their homeland by Israeli's who want to take over the land as their own. Did you say no? I didn't think you had.

Will there be time for the Yemen crisis? Their civil war has been ongoing since late 2014, where there are gross human rights violations and things constituting as war crimes happening daily. 233,000 Yemeni's died in 2019 as a result of fighting for their lives and the humanitarian crisis.

Are you focusing on the Cuban migrants? There are children and families being abused in ICE prisons, as a result of seeking refuge. The prisoners have been on days-long hunger strikes and guards will enter with full riot gear, to gas them.

The lives of black trans people. In 2019, there was at least 27 deaths of transgender or no-conforming people in the US. This was due to acts of fatal violence, the majority of these people were black transgender women. This year the figure is 21, still predominantly consistent of black women.

The lives of people who are working tirelessly in Chinese and Bangladeshi sweatshops. These sweatshops are owned, exploited and ran by US business owners. CEO's are seeking women and young children to work to the bone for shrapnel, to maximize profits. Do you have time for them?

Shootings in synagogues and other Jewish institutions, risking the lives of thousands of Jewish people. At the same time as risking their lives in their holy institutions, the community is collapsing as the government is cutting funding for these religious institutions for this specific group.

LGBTQ+ community experiencing homelessness at disproportionately higher rates than others. To help you gain some understanding, young LGBT people compromise up to 24% of the youth homelessness in Britain. Suggestions have been made that this is likely a direct result of their sexuality, however supportive services are still being cut.

MMIW are suffering a genocidal epidemic. Indigenous women are going missing at increasing rates and most of which are found murdered. The media has compared this disaster to a Canadian national crisis and Canadian genocide. Effecting only, indigenous women. Are they the lives you're focused on?

The American government has reversed health protections for transgender people. Donald Trump made the announcement on the 4th anniversary of the Pulse shooting. This shooting claimed the lives of 49 people in a gay nightclub.

Women who are lacking access to basic human rights. 214 million women worldwide want, but cannot access, contraception. Women and girls all over the world are in dire need of sexual and reproductive health rights, as a result of not receiving them 800 people die daily from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Black women being 5 times more likely to die during childbirth than their white conterparts. Medical practices are aware of this issue, it is something that has been ongoing for decades. In almost every case, the death was as a result of medical negligence. Yet still, no one is petitioning for change.

The lives of the thousands of people who live in the 76 countries, who are gay and unable to marry. Despite being consenting adults, it is still outlawed in a number of countries worldwide and the punishment for doing so; could be fatal.

Climate change. How it is going to have a devastating effect on low income neighborhoods. Again, predominately consistent of black people who's lives are already in enough danger.

Flint still not having access to clean water. Despite pipelines being constructed and installed in 2014. The pipes worked only temporarily and the construction workers failed to fix their flaws.

The lives of the thousands of children who are being abused by the system. As a direct result of parents lacking access to reproductive rights and being forced to follow through with pregnancies they are not ready for or don't want.

The lives of almost every single Islamic individual in America because of how real Islamaphobia is in the states. It is heavily prominent, encouraged and endorsed by the media.

Or the lives of the thousands of African, Asian and Middle Eastern women who are being genitally mutilated in non sterile environments, by non qualified practicing doctors. Risking sepsis and endless amounts of other life threatening difficulties later in life.

So, again. We were just focusing on the police brutality issue at the moment. It has become apparent you have an abundance of time on your hands, in which you are able to advocate for and protect all lives. Here's a list of where you can start.

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Peach Verdi Pietersen

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