Fantasia Barrino defends naming peaceful rally All Lives Matter

R&B singer Fantasia Barrino has defended naming her peaceful rally event All Lives Matter.
The 32-year-old drew heavy criticism on social media for naming her event Hear Me Now – All Lives Matter, after the phrase which was created in response to the Black Lives Matter activist movement, which campaigns against the deaths of black people at the hands of police officers.
The event was billed as an effort to build unity following days of protest over the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The show, which was scheduled for Sunday (25Sep16) at Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte, was postponed until the following week (02Oct16) after city officials advised her to reschedule to avoid the crowds clashing with those attending the Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings game.
In a video posted on Facebook and Twitter, Fantasia attempted to clarify her reasoning for adopting the controversial slogan, which received an outpouring of criticism when she shared the event’s flyer on social media.
“I understand that our people are still in poverty and we’re not getting certain things that we deserve. I understand that, but the only way we’re going to get it is not through tearing up buildings,” she explained as she sat next to her husband Kendall Taylor. “Two thousand years ago, Jesus ended the debate on which lives matter. He died for all us. All of us. Martin Luther King stood for love and unity for all people. United we stand, divided we fall. Let’s all stand together. So black lives matter, yes they do. All lives matter.”
Her husband slammed those complaining about the difference between Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter.
“I have a lot of white employees, white colleagues, white business partners. I have a mixed grandchild,” he explained. “And I’m not going to discount that a black life is of lesser value than a white life or Hispanic life or Asian life or Latino life. Black lives matter because all lives matter.”
The event’s lineup also included Dennis Reed, John P. Kee, and Anthony Hamilton. Hamilton has insisted he was not aware of the concert’s title when he signed up to take part.