Black Lives Matter has proven to be an effective name for the movement now entering its fourth year. However, to answer their opponents who counter with “all lives matter,” the hashtag #AllLivesDidntMatter was used on Twitter. And it went viral.
The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag first appeared in July of 2013, following a jury’s acquittal of George Zimmerman for the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Since the beginning, critics of the message have taken issue with what they say is an implication that other lives do not matter. Along with the hashtag #AllLivesMatter, some have used #BlueLivesMatter to defend police, for instance Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown in 2014.
Supporters of Black Lives Matter have now, in an attempt to call the bluff of those using the #AllLivesMatter hashtag, garnered support for their side by using the hashtag #AllLivesDidntMatter, an open invitation to others on Twitter to share examples in history, especially within the US, where minorities were oppressed or abused.
Nearly 180,000 Twitter posts with the #AllLivesDidntMatter tag were sent by early Monday evening. Here is a small sampling:
The topic was also used to point out ongoing or recent conflicts abroad, which have connections to US foreign policy:
Meanwhile, others were feeling a bit hashtagged out, calling for more substance over a trending Twitter spat.