Dayvon Love, Director of Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, reflects on how protest movements have evolved since the Baltimore uprising that followed the death of Freddie Gray.
He shares the importance of a unified, strategic approach to resistance — pushing back against the current emphasis on visibility and symbolism over meaningful, intentional action.
Love highlights the critical need for political warfare, community control of resources, and reparations as essential tools to address long-standing systemic inequities. He also stresses the urgency of holding law enforcement accountable, strengthening community institutions, and pushing back against the growing backlash to criminal justice reforms.
While noting progress in youth accountability initiatives, Love warns that without sustained focus, there’s a risk of repeating the cycles of mass incarceration that have devastated Black communities for generations.
