Marine veteran Chris Marquez claims he was assaulted by Black Lives Matter teens. Image courtesy of abc13.org

Movements and causes are constructs which allow people to be brought together. I’ve seen them keep people not only motivated but also give them a voice .

An example of this is the Black Lives Matter movement which was organized to provide a voice to a community, but has been met with much outrage.

I wonder what happens when a movement which seeks to provide empowerment and education is threatened. Not by an outside source but by those who can easily identify with the population it represents who don’t act out according to the movement’s mission statement.

In news headlines this week something caught my attention: “Black Lives Matter Teen beats Marine Vet.”

In the wake of anger that stemmed from this event, my heart was tugged that some group of teenagers were said to have harassed Christopher Marquez, a decorated Iraq war Vet.

The story explains how several teens approached his table last Friday when he was eating. They asked Marquez if he “believed in Black Lives Matter.”

When Marquez didn’t answer, it angered them. Marquez supposedly ignored the teens and left McDonald’s. As he was leaving he was struck from behind. The teens beat him and took his wallet.

I’m not pointing fingers at this movement. Nor am I suggesting Marquez is or was a racist. What’s most disheartening about this story is that people would claim to support a cause but go against its very mission.

Black Lives Matter was created to envision a world that could change people’s  negative stigmas towards blacks in society.

In a time where many blacks have been beaten, criticized and criminalized, this violence  is unnecessary.

People are entitled to believe in  whatever movement or cause they want to. Even when we disagree we should never fight fire with fire. I don’t believe knocking someone out who deserves a ton of respect is OK. It is not acceptable when people suffer so much already.

I would like to challenge people’s perceptions that this action is what Black Lives Matter represents.

Marquez is a decorated war hero who not only served his country but risked his life on multiple deployments to Iraq. It is my hope people start realizing that regardless of differences in beliefs and perceptions, no one deserves to have this happen to them.

When we fight fire with fire it doesn’t get anywhere. It only causes harm and leaves a wake of more hardship and ill feelings in the way.

Attacks that mimic this one need to be brought to light. I don’t think that it helps to not have them reported and have both sides evaluated. Whatever Marquez believes, it should be known he fought for this country, which includes the black community. Violence only begets more violence, and it is important to take a stand against it.

Amina Chinnell-Mateen is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected]