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The Black Lives Matter movement is a response to the rash of police shootings of unarmed young black men, starting with the shooting of Travon Martin by George Zimmerman.

a. true
b. false

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Final answer:

The Black Lives Matter movement began after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in 2013 and focuses on combatting systemic racism and violence against Black communities. It differs from historical civil rights movements in its use of social media for organization and communication. The claim that it started with the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman is false, as it officially started afterward.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the Black Lives Matter movement started in response to the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman is false. Although the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman did spark public outrage and set a precedent for activism against racial profiling and police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement itself officially began after the acquittal of Zimmerman in 2013. The movement gained further momentum with the high-profile cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City, which indeed involved police officers and highlighted systemic issues.

The Black Lives Matter movement calls for an end to police brutality and all forms of racially motivated violence against Black people. It prioritizes building local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. It also works towards the eradication of white supremacy and systemic racism through activism, civil disobedience, and social media organization. While the movement started in the United States, it has gained international attention and support, with its reach extending to global concerns of state policies affecting people of color.

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