A meme circulated on social media in March 2021 has been shared tens of thousands of times, claiming the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the left-wing anti-fascist movement Antifa have disappeared because ‘they stopped being paid to show up’ . The allegation is unfounded based on the allegations of conspiracy theories related to these two organizations. Since the publication of this article, the BLM movement has been active on social media and in protests. Anti-fascist protesters also protested against a right-wing caravan in Salem, Oregon, this week.
A Facebook post that was shared more than 46,800 times on March 21, 2021, can be viewed here. Other repetitions can be seen here and here.
These allegations reflect conspiracy-linked stories that Antifa and BLM are not real movements, but actors or a facade for larger occult powers. Previous Reuters fact-checking that breaks down similar claims can be seen here and here.
Reuters Fact Check addressed similar posts on social media that falsely claimed in December 2021 that BLM had disappeared (here) after the presidential election.
BLACK LIFE IS RELATED TO THE ELECTION
The summer of 2020 saw the largest rallies of the United States for racial justice and civil rights in a generation, giving a global profile to the BLM movement. The protests were sparked on May 25 by the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes (here).
Since March 7, 2021, a day before the trial of Derek Chauvin began, the former Minneapolis police officer has executed on charges of murder and manslaughter due to Floyd’s death, protesters protesting in downtown Minneapolis. Some hold BLM banners (youtu.be/OmxY88EB7aQ, youtu.be/aENCw_E8VWo, youtu.be/VEXEBk7W2GU). Reuters coverage of Chauvin’s trial can be seen here and here.
Leaders of the Los Angeles movement also responded publicly on March 16 to a report from the city council, which said police had deployed ‘shadow teams’ of secret officials during the 2021 summer protests to stop protesters to monitor (here, here).
BLM was also active on their social media (www.twitter.com/Blklivesmatter, here, here) and their website (blacklivesmatter.com/news/).
ANTIFA
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors extremists, Antifa is an amorphous movement whose supporters oppose people or groups they see as authoritarian or racist. Antifa aims to “intimidate and repel” racists, but its aggressive tactics, including physical confrontations, can create a “bad, self-destructive cycle of attacks, counter-attacks and blame,” the ADL said (here ).
Local media reports said on March 28 that more than 150 anti-fascist protesters had gathered at the Capitol in Oregon in a counter-demonstration against the right-wing ‘Freedom Rally’ caravan (here, here).
The Oregon State Police said on Facebook (here, 0 = AZV0LwglAkSHngBddpAggKpaadehoXO2cTk9ske9mQCYbue5Wjy_g7SeUNjxuaa_dM5Db-Zis_r855I2NNBIIDWsyJNr6PA3LaTN5pHfFFj42ynq4Z5f8rgoy1PGbaDJeixDPAF9Gu7izuDCFlDFj2tc & __ tn __ =% 2CO% 2 Cp-R) which counterprotest with the name “Fascist Free 503” appeared on social media as a response to the “Freedom Rally “, announced in February. On March 30, four individuals were arrested on “charges related to criminal activity during the event.”
On January 20, anti-government and anti-fascist protesters in Portland and Seattle vandalized a Democratic Party office and other buildings, struggling with police and protesting against the inauguration of President Joe Biden (here).
VERDICT
Untrue. Black Lives Matter and Antifa did not disappear on March 30, 2021.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.