Which activist first used the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter in 2013?

Patrisse Cullors was the activist credited with first creating and using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter in 2013. She developed it after Alicia Garza wrote a reflection following George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin; Cullors replied with the phrase “Black Lives Matter” and turned it into a hashtag.

Cullors, Garza, and Opal Tometi then worked together to build the online network and organizing infrastructure around the slogan. The hashtag gave supporters a concise way to identify posts, share stories, coordinate demonstrations, and connect local struggles involving racial injustice and police violence.

A common mix-up is answering Alicia Garza or Opal Tometi. Garza originated the written phrase that inspired the hashtag, while Tometi helped establish the digital accounts and network. Because all three women are recognized as co-founders of the movement, references often describe them collectively; however, when the question asks who first used or created the hashtag, Patrisse Cullors is the canonical answer.