Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a decentralized human rights Black liberation movement with chapters in the United States, the UK, Canada, and Japan. The BLM Movement advocates for an end to police and other state sponsored violences, abolition of prisons, racial capitalism, and the interlocking social, cultural, and political harms of white supremacy and racism. BLM imagines a world where all Black peoples are free and flourishing in full dignity, self-determination, and power.
The BLM Global Network and its individual chapters have played leading roles in building resistance to and transforming local policies against systemic police violence and extrajudicial murders of Black people across the United States. It has shifted the national narrative, political landscape, and expanded the vision for true democratic possibilities within the United States. It’s mission is both specific and universal in that an end to devaluation of Black life everywhere affirms that all people are created as equal and worthy of liberty. Its voice, visibility, and power have commanded international influence, recognition, and solidarity. The BLM movement seeks reparations for willful and lasting harms caused to African Americans by slavery, and investment in communities—in healthcare, education, economic, housing, and mental health infrastructure and resources.
As a networked movement, BLM also recognizes the need to center the leadership of women, queer and trans people, the economically poor and working class. BLM has made the commitment to placing those historically dehumanized and excluded at the center of building a world in which all Black lives truly matter.
The International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha was launched in April 2016 in the name of prominent Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since its launch, the signature campaign has been supported by a broad range of prominent individuals and organizations, enjoying great support from people across the world. The collected signatures, total 11,843,549 (as of March 31, 2020,) making it one of the largest signature campaigns ever carried out in the world and a powerful popular force manifesting global demands for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The signatures have been submitted and acknowledged by the U.N. and NPT PrepCom Chairs.
In addition to worldwide efforts, across Japan signature promotion committees have been established in each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, leading to the endorsement of the Appeal by 1263 mayors and governors. On the August 6-9 the 75th anniversary commemorations for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “Peace Wave” of international joint actions by grassroots organizations will circle the globe with activities to press for the elimination of nuclear weapons with the Hibakusha Appeal signature campaign serving as the Peace Wave’s common action.
