Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County
Mission & Vision
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County’s mission is to dismantle anti-black systems, policies, and outcomes that lead to the oppression, torture, and death of black and brown people.
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County is a grassroots social justice cooperative. We focus on the empowerment and liberation of Black and other marginalized people through advocacy, education, community programs, direct action, and healing. Our Leadership centers Black women and other multi-marginalized people.
Our Guiding Principles
At the heart of our work lies a deep commitment to healing, justice, and community. Every day, we recommit to:
- Healing and Co-Creation: We foster a culture where every individual feels seen, heard, and supported as we build alongside comrades, allies, and family.
- Black Leadership: We center Black-led chapters, prioritizing Black leadership in all facets of our work.
- Celebrating Diversity: We acknowledge, respect, and celebrate both differences and commonalities within our community.
- Striving for Justice: Working tirelessly for the freedom and justice of Black people and, by extension, all people.
- Beloved Community: We intentionally nurture a restorative and connected community rooted in a “beautiful struggle.”
- Unapologetic Blackness: We affirm that Black lives matter without qualification or compromise, recognizing this as a prerequisite for broader justice and equity.
The Lioness + Megaphones + Combs + The Fern + BLMSKC in Braille
The Lioness: Lionesses are known for working together. They hunt together and raise children together. Their level of coordination makes them amongst the best known hunters in the world. Their bonds are known to be unbreakable. They are the warriors, protectors, providers. This animal was included based on the fierceness of the black women of BLMSKC
The mouth of the lioness is open to invoke the idea that BLM’s voice can never be silenced
Megaphones: Megaphones symbolize protest, and elevate voices. The megaphone handles are decorated with a design from the Suriname Rainforest where Africans escaped slavery and have lived for generations.
The inspiration of this design comes from a tribal ornate food stirrer handle; representing our voices, our protest, and advocacy; bringing sustenance to the village.
Combs: On the continent, depending on location, the comb represented nobility, cultural vibrancy, and uniqueness. It represents all of these things in this piece
The Ferns (Adinkra Symbol): The fern signifies the ability to thrive in the worst of conditions. This directly exemplifies endurance and resourcefulness; commonly associated in the black community and seen in the strength of black women.
BLMSKC in Braille: The font for BLMSKC contains the open circles as a means of intentionality to represent those who are vision impaired.
Meet the Artist
Zahyr Lauren
Also known as The Artist L.Haz, creates in order to share light and love with community
EMAIL: info@blacklivesseattle.org
PHONE: (206) 333-0350
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County is an Independent 501c(4) non-partisan organization.
Black Lives Matter Seattle King County Radical Empowerment Vessels is a 501c(3) non-profit educational organization