Black Lives Matter Co-Founder To Visit CSUN

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors will talk with California State University, Northridge faculty, staff, alumni and students Thursday during a webinar and new student convocation, according to CSUN.

Cullors co-founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who killed Trayvon Martin. 17-year-old Martin was unarmed, walking home from the convenience store when Zimmerman fatally shot him.

The movement began as a hashtag and has grown to include over 40 member-led chapters around the globe that work to counter unjust violence against Black communities while focusing on Black joy and creativity, according to their website.

Cullors will be doing a Q&A webinar at 5 p.m. ahead of her keynote address for new student convocation at 6 p.m. Her 2018 book, "When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir," was the book all incoming CSUN freshmen read this year. The book, co-written by asha bandele, traces Cullors' path to Black Lives Matter and reflections on society.

Community members can register for the event submit questions ahead of time using this link.

Cullors stepped down as executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation in May amid criticism from other organizers and attacks from far-right groups, though Cullors said neither factor played a role in her resignation, according to the Associated Press.

Cullors has given lectures on other campuses this year like the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania State University and more.