The 2012 slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin ignited both the Black Lives Matter movement and the political career of Andrew Gillum, whose campaign against Florida’s “stand your ground” personal defense law was instrumental in elevating him to Tallahassee mayor.
Mr. Gillum is now on the cusp of winning Florida’s governorship — but BLM activism has been mostly disarmed as a political movement.
The demonstrations that dominated the 2016 election, cowing presidential contenders and dominating cable television shows, is missing in action in this year’s campaigns.
Those who claimed leadership roles in the movement are more interested these days in working the speakers’ circuit than leading protests in the streets.
