Official Black Lives Matter account posts video justifying violence amid Zarutska murder outrage
By willowt // 2025-09-12
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  • Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was murdered on a Charlotte light rail train on August 22, 2023.
  • DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender, was charged with the murder and declared, “I got that white girl.”
  • The BLM Instagram account posted a video clip from “Born in Flames” justifying violence, causing public outrage.
  • BLM clarified that the post was not related to Zarutska’s death and that they do not condone political violence.
  • The incident has reignited debates about race, violence and the role of social media in shaping public opinion.
On Wednesday, September 10, the official Instagram account of Black Lives Matter (BLM) posted a video clip justifying violence, reigniting public outrage in the wake of the brutal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina. The video, a 15-second clip from the 1983 film “Born in Flames,” features a character declaring that “all oppressed people have a right to violence.” The timing of the post, just one day after the full surveillance footage of Zarutska’s murder was made public, has fueled accusations of racism and deliberate incitement.

The tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska

Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who fled her country during the 2022 war with Russia, was stabbed to death on August 22, 2023, while riding the Charlotte Lynx Blue Line light rail train. Surveillance footage captured the unprovoked attack by 34-year-old DeCarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., who was heard saying, “I got that white girl,” after the stabbing. Brown, with a history of 14 arrests, including prior assault and weapons charges, had been repeatedly released on bail.

BLM's controversial post

The BLM Instagram account posted a clip from “Born in Flames,” a film that explores themes of oppression and revolution. In the clip, a character named Zella asserts, “We have a right to violence. All oppressed people have a right to violence. And I want to tell you something, it’s like the right to pee. You got to have the right place. You got to have the right time. You got to have the appropriate situation. And I’m absolutely convinced that this is it!” The post, which stayed on BLM’s Instagram Stories for 24 hours, was widely criticized as insensitive and inflammatory, given the recent murder of Zarutska. The BLM account later issued a statement clarifying that the video was not related to Zarutska’s death and that they do not condone political violence, but the damage had already been done.

The political and societal ramifications

The controversy has sparked a broader debate about race, violence and the role of social media in shaping public opinion. Critics argue that the BLM post is a dangerous justification of violence, especially in light of the Zarutska murder. The post has further strained the already tense relationship between BLM and law enforcement, as well as conservative factions. Attorney General Pam Bondi, responding to the murder, said, “Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream—her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people. I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence—he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

The broader context of racial and social tensions

The Zarutska case is part of a larger national conversation about race, crime and justice. The incident has been compared to other high-profile cases, such as the death of Jordan Neely, a man with a lengthy arrest record who died after being restrained by Daniel Penny, a Marine Corps veteran. The contrasting media coverage of these cases has highlighted the divide in how different communities are treated by the justice system and the media.

A call for unity and justice

The posting of the video by the BLM account and the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska have brought to the forefront the deep-seated racial and social tensions in America. As the nation grapples with these issues, it is crucial to seek a path of unity and justice. The government, civil society and the media must work together to ensure that all voices are heard and that justice is served for all victims of violence, regardless of their background. Sources for this article include: TheGatewayPundit.com X.com DailyCaller.com
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