What events led to the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement?

The Black Lives Matter movement emerged primarily in response to police violence and systemic racism, which have historically marginalized and oppressed Black individuals and communities in the United States. The movement began in 2013, catalyzed by the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager. This incident ignited national outrage and mobilized people around issues of police brutality, racial profiling, and the broader systemic injustices faced by Black Americans.

The movement gained further momentum in 2014 with the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, which highlighted the urgent need to address and challenge the structures of systemic racism within law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Black Lives Matter framed these issues within a larger context of equality and justice, advocating for the rights and dignity of Black lives in a society that has often denied them.

The other options focus on different aspects that aren't the primary catalysts for the formation of this specific movement. While educational resources and economic reform are important social issues, they do not capture the immediate impetus for Black Lives Matter, which centers on addressing violence and oppression in a starkly racialized context. Similarly, an environmental initiative does not align with the core issues at the heart of Black Lives Matter. The movement specifically arose