The effort to hold these politicians accountable is understandable when you consider that African Americans overwhelmingly vote Democratic. But from another perspective, it seems clear that #BlackLivesMatter is looking for real answers in all the wrong places, and is in danger of being taken for granted in the long term by the Democratic Party, as has been the case with previous movements that have attempted to address issues facing African Americans. Why? Because, based on their almost exclusive approach to the Democratic field, #BlackLivesMatter activists seem to be assuming — incorrectly — that conservative candidates have nothing to offer their movement.
From a policy standpoint, #BlackLivesMatter has concentrated on the subconscious (and sometimes conscious) biases that inform interactions between the police and black citizens in many communities. And these biases undoubtedly exist.
But the movement should direct more of its focus toward a crucial link in the chain that drives a substantial portion of hostile interactions between black Americans and police. The emphasis should be on asking: Why are police brought into hostile interactions with black people so often in the first place? It’s because of the big-government policies and practices of the supposedly liberal Democrats that the #BlackLivesMatter crowd is petitioning for help.
An excellent piece, though flawed by its assumption that #BlackLivesMatter has anything to do with helping actual black people.