White Lives Matter
White Lives Matter (WLM) is a white supremacist slogan that emerged in 2015 as a reaction to the Black Lives Matter social justice movement that started a few years prior.[1] The phrase has been used by neo-Nazis, Neo-Confederates, and other white supremacist groups to recruit new members into white supremacist movements and demonstrations.[1][2] Proponents of the slogan argue that they use it to raise awareness against a supposed "white genocide" and build support for a white ethnostate,[3] and it has been frequently found at "pro-white" rallies across the United States.[1]
Involvement with the media[edit]
The "White Lives Matter" movement has received some media coverage, but much of it has been critical and has focused on the movement's ties to white nationalism and white supremacy.[23][24] Some members of the movement have used social media to organize rallies and events and to promote their ideology. In recent years, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have taken steps to remove content promoting hate speech, including content related to the "White Lives Matter" movement.[25]
Usage[edit]
Kanye West[edit]
On October 3, 2022, during his Yeezy SZN 9 fashion show in Paris, Kanye West wore a shirt with the slogan "White Lives Matter" written on it,[26][27] a move described by Forbes as controversial.[28] Conservative commentator Candace Owens posed for a photo with West wearing a matching shirt with the slogan.[26][27] He explained his choice in the following way: "At a certain point, it felt like I saw White people wearing shirts that said Black Lives Matter, like, they were doing me such a favor by having a t-shirt that reminded me that my life mattered. Like I didn't already know that. So, I thought I'd return the favor and let White people know, that hey, your life matters, too."[29]