The Black Lives Matter of Columbus chapter has disbanded after nearly two and a half years of advocacy and awareness about racial justice and related issues.
Members of a three-person leadership team that took over for founder Brittany King acknowledged that they struggled to find sufficient time for their posts amid jobs, returning to college and other constraints.
King, a Columbus native, moved to New York in August to begin graduate studies in journalism at New York University.
“It became very difficult with the (four) board members we had,” said Tosha Lafferty, one of the leaders, adding that the final meeting was held last month. “Everyone seemed to be facing scheduling conflicts and similar issues. But there is really a hope that we all will continue to support other local organizations such as Not In Columbus, for example.”
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Not In Columbus, a coalition of faith-based, racial, ethnic and other groups, organized last year initially in response to the presence of white supremacy groups locally. The coalition’s mission is to fight hate and related groups.
Lafferty announced that Black Lives Matter of Columbus was disbanding on its Facebook page.
In part, her message read: “Of the reasons behind this decision, Columbus, Indiana being ‘done’ doing the work of black liberation is not one. Far from it. There is still a long way to go. As such, our hope is that the followers of this page will remain active and stay vigilant in the fight for black lives.”
The chapter’s mission focused “on peaceful protest to injustices to invoke necessary changes locally, and to assist with national reform to the criminal justice system,” according to its Facebook page at Black Lives Matter of Columbus IN.
The chapter formed in July 2016, days after a hastily organized peaceful protest by King and about 20 friends at Second and Washington streets in front of Columbus City Hall over the shooting deaths of several unarmed black residents by white police officers across the nation.
Soon afterward, the chapter:
Organized education-oriented film presentations.
Presented Martin Luther King Day speakers
Sponsored rallies to support predominantly black and suffering communities such as Flint, Michigan, and its water crisis.
Held panel discussions on topics such as colorism and white privilege.
Most of the local chapter’s members were white, according to leaders. And at public events, most of the audiences were white. Blacks represent 2.3 percent of the estimated 2016 Bartholomew County population, compared to 88.8 percent that are white, 6.7 percent Asian and 6.5 percent Hispanic.
King, reached in New York City, said she felt disappointment in the chapter’s ending, but she also was understanding.
“Sometimes life just happens,” King said of her peers’ struggle to keep the chapter alive. “Everyone in leadership has been transitioning. And they feel like they just don’t have the time to give, and I support that. But I don’t think all this has fully hit me yet, because I’m not in Indiana.
“I have to say, though, that when I first heard, my heart broke a little. Yet, I was thinking, and maybe the local Black Lives Matter was supposed to be only for two years, maybe to create a ripple effect so people could then do other (related) work.”
Community reaction
The Rev. Mike Harris, the leader of the local African American Pastors Alliance that has taken a stand for blacks in everything from education to media coverage, said he was surprised with the development.
“They provided a voice for the community as it related to African Americans,” Harris said.
Gil Palmer, who has served on the Columbus Human Rights Commission for 20 years, saw the chapter as one part of the city’s significant racial and cultural mix.
“This is a diverse community, and every part of the community needs to be represented in some way,” Palmer said. “And this work (of social justice) is never completely done.
“But it’s been my experience that Columbus is a community that always has been (socially and racially) aware. And we’re striving to be a welcoming community, and that is a work in progress.”
The 50-year-old Columbus Bartholomew County Area NAACP Branch continues to work locally on justice issues for blacks — a theme heavily emphasized at its annual meeting before 130 people last month. The chapter’s mission remains “to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination,” according to leaders.
NAACP President Stella Collins called Black Lives Matter “a very powerful young group” during its span.
The NAACP, which has seen a 30 percent rise in membership this year, might have to step up occasionally “to bridge the gap” over minority concerns due to Black Lives Matter’s demise.
“But there are other groups designed to be more immediately proactive regarding public meetings and discussions,” Collins said, adding that the local NAACP — chartered 50 years ago on Dec. 8, 1968 — must align its concerns with the national organization.
She also said the NAACP’s most recent role has been in supporting other groups supporting blacks, such as the African American Pastors Alliance.
“So, we may not always be the initiating party of an issue,” Collins said. “But we certainly remain aware of what’s going on — and then collaborate with others (to help).”
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2: Number of years active
4: Number of chapter leaders before disbanding
30: Regular number of attendees at many planning meetings
150: Largest crowd of people at an event
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Bartholomew County remains home to several organizations and agencies standing for justice, diversity and against hate. They are:
- Columbus Human Rights Commission, in a role of building and building and maintaining an inclusive community by everything from enforcing the city’s human rights ordinance to challenging attitudes and systems that create barriers to equality. Information: 812-376-2532.
- Columbus Bartholomew County Area NAACP Branch, working "to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination," according to its guidelines. Information: 812-314-2708.
- Not In Columbus, a coalition of a coalition of faith-based, racial, ethnic and other groups. The coalition’s mission is "to amplify love, advocate for human rights, and respond to hate in all its forms," according to its website. Information: notincolumbus.org.
- African American Pastors Alliance, a group of area pastors actively addressing broad minority concerns, from police matters to media coverage to education. Information: Rev. Mike Harris at 812-371-8624.
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