Alicia Garza (née Schwartz; born January 4, 1981) is an American civil rights activist and writer known for co-founding the Black Lives Matter movement.

She is a recognized advocate for social and racial justice, with a particular focus on issues affecting marginalized communities, including Black women, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrants.

She has written extensively on issues related to race, gender, and social justice, and her work has appeared in numerous publications.

Her editorial writing has been published by Time, Mic, Marie Claire, Elle, Essence, The Guardian, The Nation, The Feminist Wire, Rolling Stone, HuffPost, and Truthout.

Her family lived first in San Rafael and then Tiburon, and ran an antiques business, assisted later by her brother Joey, eight years her junior.

In her final year at college, she helped organize the first Women of Color Conference, a university-wide convocation held at UCSD in 2002.

Garza worked with the grassroots organization POWER in Bayview–Hunters Point, where she advocated for economic, environmental, racial, and gender justice by promoting public housing and transit accessibility, and fought against a controversial development project, although the initiative she supported was ultimately defeated.

[12] In particular, the movement was born and Garza's post became popularized after protests emerged in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown.

[13] Garza led the 2015 Freedom Ride to Ferguson, organized by Cullors and Darnell Moore, that launched the building of BlackLivesMatter chapters across the United States and the world.

Garza is now the 27th most influential African American (behind her collaborator, Patrisse Cullors) on the Root 100, an annual list of black influencers.

[20] She has given speeches to audiences across the country, from union halls to the United Nations Office of the High Commission on Human Rights.

[4] Garza's editorial writing has been published by The Guardian,[21] The Nation,[22] The Feminist Wire,[23] Rolling Stone, HuffPost, and Truthout.

[24] Previously, Garza had served as the director of People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

During her time in the position, she won the right for youth to use public transportation for free in San Francisco, and campaigned against gentrification and police brutality in the area.

Over two dozen Black Lives Matter organizers and supporters marched in the Pride Parade behind Garza, who sat next to transgender rights activist Miss Major, the previous year's Community Grand Marshal.

[28] Garza presented at the 2016 Bay Area Rising event, speaking about the propagation of Black Lives Matter and human rights.

[29][better source needed] In her 2017 speech to graduating students from San Francisco State University, Garza praised the indomitable spirit of Black women who laid the foundation for activism.

Garza recognized the significant impact of Black women voters and celebrated their magic, resilience, and diverse contributions.

[40] The survey included questions on subjects such as political attitudes, organization affiliation, experiences with racism and police violence, perceptions of social movements, access to healthcare, and economic well-being.

This first cohort of 29 Atlantic Fellows are focused on challenging racism in the U.S. and South Africa and disrupting the rise of white nationalism and supremacy.

My name is my own my own my own," reflecting the profound connection between #Black Lives Matter and the deep roots of African American culture.