Not all Muslims are part of the Muslim Reform Movement, not all gay people are part of the LGBT Movement and not all black people are part of the Black Lives Matter movement. 
Last week, a group of teens beat up Iraq veteran Chris Marquez at a             McDonald’s in Washington, D.C.
Marquez was eating when the teens approached him and asked if he thought “black lives matter.” 
“I felt threatened and thought they were trying to intimidate me, so I figured I’m just going to keep to my food, eat my food and hopefully they’ll leave me alone,” Marquez told WJLA News.
He claimed they called him a racist after he ignored their questions. As he was leaving the restaurant, the teens allegedly beat and robbed him.
The fact Marquez had to suffer such a brutal encounter is extremely unfortunate. A person should never have to go through that. The teens who committed the beating need to be arrested and charged with assault and robbery. 
This incident has nothing to do with the “Black Lives Matter” versus the “All Lives Matter” debate. Not only does the occurrence not correlate to the debate, but it is not a representation of the movement at all. 
According to the official Black Lives Matter website, “We are committed to collectively, lovingly and courageously working vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by                   extension all people.”
The movement stands on principles of diversity, globalism, transgender affirming, queer affirming, black families and many more. 
It is built on a solid foundation of acceptance and peace, not one of violence. 
The website also states, “we intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.”
Just because the teens inquired about black lives does not make them black lives matter activists. They are not going around protesting for change and equality for African Americans.  Instead, they beat a man in McDonald’s.  
You cannot make broad generalizations without proof to back your accusations. 
The fact that the teens who beat Marquez were black and questioned him about black lives does not affiliate them with the Black Lives Matter movement, nor does it make them a representation of the black community as a whole. 
Stereotypes of that nature play a huge role in today’s racial barriers we can’t seem to cross.
I will reiterate — one black man does not represent all black men.   
Using that same flawed logic, I could say all police officers kill young black males because Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown and Timothy Loehmann killed Tamir Rice. But I can’t.
Because they don’t. 
Or, I could say because one fraternity at the University waved a confederate flag, all fraternities wave them.  
Associating every thug who mentions black lives with the Black Lives Matter movement is simply an easy way to throw dirt on something that is finally getting people to talk. The movement is a respectable organization that minorities need in order to join together in the fight racial inequality. 
America needs Black Lives Matter. Stop looking for ways to discredit the movement, and accept it already.  
Clarke Perkins is a 20-year-old political science sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
Read Charlie Bonacquisti’s response here