Black Lives Matter Movement Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian MP Petter Eide nominated the movement, citing its global impact on the fight to end racial injustice.

"Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice.

"They have had a tremendous achievement in raising global awareness and consciousness about racial injustice."

He continued: "They have been able to mobilise people from all groups of society, not just African-Americans, not just oppressed people, it has been a broad movement, in a way which has been different from their predecessors."

Eide also defended BLM in light of claims it had been responsible for violence in the US, adding that his nomination was not meant as a political statement.

He said: "Studies have shown that most of the demonstrations organised by Black Lives Matter have been peaceful.

"Of course there have been incidents, but most of them have been caused by the activities of either the police or counter-protestors."

BLM was founded in 2013 by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi, following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin.

The movement grew massively last year following the killing of George Floyd.

BLM has also just won Sweden's Olof Palme human rights prize for 2020.

Eide's Nobel Peace Prize nomination concludes: "Awarding the peace prize to Black Lives Matter, as the strongest global force against racial injustice, will send a powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity and human rights, and that all countries must respect those basic principles."

The winner of the prize will be announced in October, with the award ceremony scheduled for December.