Black Lives Matter: Make ‘All Confederate Flags, Statues, and Groups’ Illegal

The official Twitter account of Black Lives Matter retweeted two messages Monday sent by the organization’s Chicago chapter, calling for “all Confederate flags, and statues, and groups” to be illegal in the United States.

“After WWII, Germany outlawed the Nazis, their symbols, salutes & their flags. All confederate flags & statue, & groups should be illegal,” Black Lives Matter Chicago tweeted Monday afternoon.

“The fact that the Confederate flag & statues permeate the south is evidence that white supremacy was never overthrown in the United States,” the Chicago-based group wrote.

After WWII, Germany outlawed the Nazis, their symbols, salutes & their flags. All confederate flags & statue, & groups should be illegal.

— BLMChicago (@BLMChi) August 14, 2017

The fact that the Confederate flag & statues permeate the south is evidence that white supremacy was never overthrown in the United States.

— BLMChicago (@BLMChi) August 14, 2017

The racial group’s posts come after white supremacists marched in a Charlottesville, Virginia, rally Saturday that turned deadly.

President Trump held a press conference Saturday, condemning what he called the “egregious display of hatred” and violence that broke out in Charlottesville. Vice President Pence also condemned the violence, as did first lady Melania Trump.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Saturday that an attorney with the Department of Justice “commenced a federal investigation” into the rally, including a car attack that killed one and injured 16 others

Black Lives Matter began to appear on social media after George Zimmerman shot and killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin 2012. Since Martin’s death, the phrase has gained political prominence nationally — heavily supported by celebrities and even former President Obama — in the wake of various high-profile police-involved shootings of black men.

However, a Harvard-Harris poll published earlier this month found that a majority of registered voters in America have a negative view of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson