Black Lives Matter has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The movement and organization – which was founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in 2013 – was nominated by Norwegian parliament member Petter Eide for the honor.
“Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice,” he wrote in a statement to the Nobel committee. “For the Nobel Prize Committee, this is not unusual to link a fight for (racial) justice, to link that with peace. There will be no peace without justice.”
He continued, saying that Black Lives Matter is “the strongest global force against racial injustice” and thinks awarding them the prize will send a ”powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity and human rights.”
The organization reacted to the nomination on Twitter.
“We hold the largest social movement in global history. Today, we have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. People are waking up to our global call: for racial justice and an end to economic injustice, environmental racism, and white supremacy,” it said.
They added, “We’re only getting started.”
We hold the largest social movement in global history. Today, we have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. People are waking up to our global call: for racial justice and an end to economic injustice, environmental racism, and white supremacy. We're only getting started ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/xjestPNFzC
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) January 30, 2021
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be selected in October 2021 with the award ceremony currently scheduled for December.
Click inside to see how Opal and Patrisse reacted to the news…