If the establishment isn’t trying to co-opt your movement, then it hasn’t made an impact. The best response after they’ve ceded a certain amount of ground is to keep pushing toward the ultimate goal & not allow them to fully co-opt & subvert the movement’s aims. ~1~

This is what’s happening w/ momentum around BLM. Many of the political figures now saying “Black Lives Matter” in every other sentence they utter are same ones who’ve repeatedly attempted to undermine the movement. They were unsuccessful & are now making symbolic concessions. ~2~

I think co-opting is part of the “then they attack you” stage that we’ve been in for several years now— the power structure continues to employ state violence & the full strength of their police forces against the movement while pretending to support its aims politically. ~3~

The great danger is in thinking a politician’s willingness to quote a Black revolutionary of the past is indicative of a willingness to align with the aims of the ongoing, revolutionary movement against racism, imperialism & capitalism. We see this same behavior every MLK Day ~4~

Still, the fact they haven’t been able to completely undermine & erase the movement after several yrs of trying is a testament to the strength & persistence of grassroots organizers nationwide.

Co-optation is frustrating but also a sign that momentum is on one’s side. ~End~