A Masterton church is being labelled "tone-deaf and racist" for posting 'All Lives Matter' on an outside sign.
After an image of St Patrick's Catholic Church's message was posted to social media, it sparked a backlash against the church - as well as debate with those who don't see a problem with the phrase.
The slogan was shared on Saturday by an angry Twitter user who called it "pretty disgusting".
"All lives do not matter until black lives matter," the Twitter user wrote.
"All lives do not matter until brown lives matter.
"It's not white people being shot because they're white. Learn what white privilege is. This is tone-deaf and racist."
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 after the death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his killer George Zimmerman, focusing on what it sees as systematic racism and violence against black people by police and within the justice system.
It has returned to the spotlight with world-wide protests following the death of African-American man George Floyd, allegedly murdered by a white police officer who knelt on his neck while he pleaded for air.
Howeve the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' has been countered with the message 'All Lives Matter', with most arguments either against the idea there is structural racism against Black people, or pointing towards a shared humanity.
The St Patrick's Catholic Church's sign has therefore been supported by several Twitter users.
"The church is saying white and brown and black lives all matter - what could be mire equitable than that ? I'm sure that church folk have not shot anyone . The comment is not racist at all . The Catholic Church is universal & it's their property [sic]," one person commented.
"All lives matter doesn't mean that black lives matter less," another said.
However others see this as diminishing the racism black people face.
"That there are people in 2020 that still think the silent word in 'Black Lives Matter' is an 'only' at the start, not a 'too' at the end is frustrating demonstrative of privilege's inability to grasp any other lived experience," one wrote.
"Wow, hope this is ignorance of the phrase's full significance, rather than deliberate opposition to Black Lives Matter. The pope has supported priests taking part in BLM protests," a second said.
The church has been contacted for comment.
