For much of its seven-year existence, the Black Lives Matter movement has been seen by many Americans as a divisive, even radical force.
Its very name enraged its foes, who countered with the slogans “Blue Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter."Times have changed — dramatically so — as evidenced during the wave of protests sparked by George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Black Lives Matter has gone mainstream — and black activists are carefully assessing how they should respond. A few examples of the changed landscape: Sen.
Mitt Romney, a Republican stalwart, joined a Black Lives Matter march. Some NASCAR drivers, whose fan base includes legions of conservative whites, embraced the phrase.