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Black Lives Matter deserves to go broke

A Black Lives Matter protest in July 2020. Credit: Getty

May 30, 2023 - 4:45pm

The last week hasn’t been an easy one for Black Lives Matter. In recent days, public filings have revealed that a major group within the movement is “bleeding cash”, while further allegations have surfaced concerning misuse of donation funds. Should we have seen this coming?

After learning in July of 2013 that George Zimmerman had been acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin, the activist Patrisse Cullors began using the hashtag #blacklivesmatter — and a movement was born. Later that year, Cullors and two other activists founded the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, whose mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities”.

BLMGNF is often assumed to be the sole or official Black Lives Matter organisation, though this actually isn’t the case: the movement itself is decentralised with no formal hierarchy. Nonetheless, BLMGNF is certainly one of the largest and most well-funded (emphasis on the latter).

Following the death of George Floyd in May of 2020, Black Lives Matter’s popularity surged – and so did BLMGNF’s revenue. In that year, the foundation managed to raise $90 million with support from the likes of Google, Amazon and Coca Cola. Yet it may soon be facing bankruptcy. According to documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, BLMGNF’s revenue fell 88% last year, and it ran a deficit of $8.5 million.

The foundation has been mired in financial scandal for much of the last two years. In May of 2021, Cullors stepped down as executive director after the New York Post revealed the self-described “Marxist” had blown $3.2 million on luxury homes (though BLMGNF maintains these were not purchased with donated funds). At the time, Cullors stated that she wanted to focus on other projects, including a TV deal with Warner Brothers.

Then in May of 2022, the foundation made its first public tax filing. This showed that BLMGNF had spent more than $12 million on luxury properties, had paid $840,000 to Cullors’s brother for “professional security services”, and had paid another $970,000 to a company owned by the father of her child. Cullors subsequently described “990” (the name of the relevant tax form) as “triggering” and claimed the filing system was being “weaponized against us”. 

The foundation’s most recent disclosures confirm that its spending habits haven’t changed. Last year, Cullors’s brother was again paid $1.6 million for “professional security services”, while a company owned by one of her friends was paid $1.7 million for “management and consulting services”. To date, BLMGNF has allotted only $30 million for charitable grants.

In the very latest development, the New York Post reports that Cullors’s TV deal with Warner Brothers (the one that supposedly contributed to her resigning as executive director) “did not result in any produced shows” and therefore “expired at the end of October 2022”. Cullors, it seems, is a more diligent fundraiser than she is a filmmaker. 

Whether BLMGNF will in fact go bankrupt remains to be seen. Since it is just one of several Black Lives Matter organisations, the movement as a whole can probably weather its demise. The more important question is how it managed to raise so much money in the first place. Evidently, donors don’t bother with due diligence when the foundation has a reassuringly woke-sounding name.


Noah Carl is an independent researcher and writer.

NoahCarl90

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Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago

I think BLM met its objectives for all concerned. The organizers cashed in on a great grift and the corporate donors got to make donations and grand statements about their commitment to the latest cause. The banks and other corporate donors didn’t care where the money went. The announcement and press release were the main objective, not ending racial discrimination.

Compare that to the truckers convoy in Canada. It raised $2 million, the overwhelming majority being donations under $200. Organizers immediately set up board of directors to determine what they would do with the donations. None of the organizers earned a nickel from the grassroots fundraiser.

Of course, the banks and big tech, working at the direction of govt, shut down the fundraiser almost immediately and intimidated donors with financial and possible legal repercussions just for making a $50 donation.

It’s pretty obvious which is the real protest and which is a corporate and govt sanctioned grift.

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Which rather begs the question of why and how these “wild eyed young white liberals” were ABLE to “shake down corporations for big money” and mot simply thrown out on their ears?

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Which rather begs the question of why and how these “wild eyed young white liberals” were ABLE to “shake down corporations for big money” and mot simply thrown out on their ears?

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago

I think BLM met its objectives for all concerned. The organizers cashed in on a great grift and the corporate donors got to make donations and grand statements about their commitment to the latest cause. The banks and other corporate donors didn’t care where the money went. The announcement and press release were the main objective, not ending racial discrimination.

Compare that to the truckers convoy in Canada. It raised $2 million, the overwhelming majority being donations under $200. Organizers immediately set up board of directors to determine what they would do with the donations. None of the organizers earned a nickel from the grassroots fundraiser.

Of course, the banks and big tech, working at the direction of govt, shut down the fundraiser almost immediately and intimidated donors with financial and possible legal repercussions just for making a $50 donation.

It’s pretty obvious which is the real protest and which is a corporate and govt sanctioned grift.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

I can think of no more obvious sign of the decadence that is engulfing the West than this ludicrous deification of the late George Floyd.

A more worthless piece of human detritus is hard to imagine.

Rob N
Rob N
1 year ago

I have to disagree. He may have been pretty useless etc but I can clearly imagine and hear about many more more worthless humans.

Rob N
Rob N
1 year ago

I have to disagree. He may have been pretty useless etc but I can clearly imagine and hear about many more more worthless humans.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

I can think of no more obvious sign of the decadence that is engulfing the West than this ludicrous deification of the late George Floyd.

A more worthless piece of human detritus is hard to imagine.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

This Patrisse Cullors woman sounds like another Winnie Mandela or Grace Mugabe.

Peter B
Peter B
1 year ago

I raise you Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  Peter B

I’ll meet that and raise you Ngozi Fulani (born Marlene Headley).

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Ah, NOW we are getting somewhere. Batwoman’s chaotic and fraudulent “charity” was specifically endorsed and enabled by David Cameron. Ngozi Fulani (for it is she) was well enough known at Buck House to waltz in to a garden party as an “invited other” – don’t believe for a moment that these aren’t security screened. She has had photo ops with then-Prince Charles before.

ben arnulfssen
ben arnulfssen
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Ah, NOW we are getting somewhere. Batwoman’s chaotic and fraudulent “charity” was specifically endorsed and enabled by David Cameron. Ngozi Fulani (for it is she) was well enough known at Buck House to waltz in to a garden party as an “invited other” – don’t believe for a moment that these aren’t security screened. She has had photo ops with then-Prince Charles before.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  Peter B

I’ll meet that and raise you Ngozi Fulani (born Marlene Headley).

Peter B
Peter B
1 year ago

I raise you Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

This Patrisse Cullors woman sounds like another Winnie Mandela or Grace Mugabe.

Gerald Arcuri
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago

What else could be expected from a Marxist organization run by a bunch of race hustlers? A fraud from start to finish. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have exposed and denounced these clowns as racists from day one.

Gerald Arcuri
Gerald Arcuri
1 year ago

What else could be expected from a Marxist organization run by a bunch of race hustlers? A fraud from start to finish. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have exposed and denounced these clowns as racists from day one.

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago

BLM, the trans craze, the whole woke culture went haywire with the support of wild eyed young liberal white people who bullied major corporations into handing over huge sums of cash. When they were not shaking down corporations for cash, they were bullying them via HR departments to hire other crazies to come in and shame white people and white men in particular. Though, that seems to have changed a bit and now they are targeting white women for investing too much in their kids.
BUT…happily, I think the worm is turning. BLM is now largely seen in the more intelligent parts of the black community for the scam it always was. Budweiser and Target are paying the price for pushing the trans agenda down their consumers throats.
The one scary part about this turning? I suspect that it will play into Donald Trump’s hands. I just do. He got elected the first time, in part at least, for pushing back on PC culture. I got a suspicion that if the democrats keep coming out in support of a trans agenda that they are gonna lose a lot of black male votes and likely a not insignificant number of black women too. Never mind the other, more socially conservative minorities.
I think Biden is a disaster and will only get worse, but I wish to God that some reasonable democrat would step up or that DeSantis could beat Trump in the primaries.

Tom Condray
Tom Condray
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Some reasonable Democrat indeed.

Here’s a test: Find one who is willing to define what a woman is.

joe hardy
joe hardy
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom Condray

Why doesn’t anyone speak of RFK? He’s a Democrat, not a communist.

joe hardy
joe hardy
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom Condray

Why doesn’t anyone speak of RFK? He’s a Democrat, not a communist.

Tom Condray
Tom Condray
1 year ago
Reply to  Daniel P

Some reasonable Democrat indeed.

Here’s a test: Find one who is willing to define what a woman is.

Daniel P
Daniel P
1 year ago

BLM, the trans craze, the whole woke culture went haywire with the support of wild eyed young liberal white people who bullied major corporations into handing over huge sums of cash. When they were not shaking down corporations for cash, they were bullying them via HR departments to hire other crazies to come in and shame white people and white men in particular. Though, that seems to have changed a bit and now they are targeting white women for investing too much in their kids.
BUT…happily, I think the worm is turning. BLM is now largely seen in the more intelligent parts of the black community for the scam it always was. Budweiser and Target are paying the price for pushing the trans agenda down their consumers throats.
The one scary part about this turning? I suspect that it will play into Donald Trump’s hands. I just do. He got elected the first time, in part at least, for pushing back on PC culture. I got a suspicion that if the democrats keep coming out in support of a trans agenda that they are gonna lose a lot of black male votes and likely a not insignificant number of black women too. Never mind the other, more socially conservative minorities.
I think Biden is a disaster and will only get worse, but I wish to God that some reasonable democrat would step up or that DeSantis could beat Trump in the primaries.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago

Sure the right name helps – and when the MSM uncritically raise an issue/group to a celestial level, people just donate.
The grifters are ready to chase any new cause – Major Tom seems to have provided another juicy grifting opportunity also.
.
If you can’t be cynical, then at least be skeptical…
.
BTW – I’m thinking of creating a charity called “Don’t Abuse Children” and will send my account details to anyone who expresses agreement with my laudable sounding aim.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ian Barton
Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago

Sure the right name helps – and when the MSM uncritically raise an issue/group to a celestial level, people just donate.
The grifters are ready to chase any new cause – Major Tom seems to have provided another juicy grifting opportunity also.
.
If you can’t be cynical, then at least be skeptical…
.
BTW – I’m thinking of creating a charity called “Don’t Abuse Children” and will send my account details to anyone who expresses agreement with my laudable sounding aim.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ian Barton
John Dellingby
John Dellingby
1 year ago

Good to see that more of the idiotic things implemented in 2020 continue to be unravelled. History will not judge us kindly for what went on that year.

Ironically, while the original goals of Black Lives Matter was to raise awareness of racism within the system and in everyday life, all they have have done is bandy the r word around so much that they almost trivialised it. I predict within the next 5 years (if that), accusations of racism will be met with “meh” by most people. The same way that “far right” used to be an outrageous slur, but basically means anyone to the right of James O’Brien on social issues.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  John Dellingby

Definition of a facist ….. someone who refused to “take the knee”.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ian Barton
Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Sorry to be a bore, but would you mind in future quarantining the ridiculous phrase “take the knee” inside quote marks.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard Craven

Excellent point Richard – it’s now corrected.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Cheers Ian.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Cheers Ian.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard Craven

Excellent point Richard – it’s now corrected.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Barton

Sorry to be a bore, but would you mind in future quarantining the ridiculous phrase “take the knee” inside quote marks.

Ian Barton
Ian Barton
1 year ago
Reply to  John Dellingby

Definition of a facist ….. someone who refused to “take the knee”.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ian Barton
John Dellingby
John Dellingby
1 year ago

Good to see that more of the idiotic things implemented in 2020 continue to be unravelled. History will not judge us kindly for what went on that year.

Ironically, while the original goals of Black Lives Matter was to raise awareness of racism within the system and in everyday life, all they have have done is bandy the r word around so much that they almost trivialised it. I predict within the next 5 years (if that), accusations of racism will be met with “meh” by most people. The same way that “far right” used to be an outrageous slur, but basically means anyone to the right of James O’Brien on social issues.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago

White Lives Matter.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago

White Lives Matter.

Simon Neale
Simon Neale
1 year ago
Simon Neale
Simon Neale
1 year ago
Julian Pellatt
Julian Pellatt
1 year ago

The sooner BLM is obliterated the better! It is driven by racism and hatred – and apparently un-Marxist capitalist greed!

Julian Pellatt
Julian Pellatt
1 year ago

The sooner BLM is obliterated the better! It is driven by racism and hatred – and apparently un-Marxist capitalist greed!

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

Surprise surprise!

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago

Surprise surprise!

Nicky Samengo-Turner
Nicky Samengo-Turner
1 year ago

and I thought that BLM was British Leyland Motors….

JR Stoker
JR Stoker
1 year ago

There are many similarities concerning efficiency, cost, lack of any management, and tendency to break down

Kent Ausburn
Kent Ausburn
1 year ago

Up until 2020 BLM in the US exclusively meant Bureau of Land Management, perceived by some as a marxist organization as well.

JR Stoker
JR Stoker
1 year ago

There are many similarities concerning efficiency, cost, lack of any management, and tendency to break down

Kent Ausburn
Kent Ausburn
1 year ago

Up until 2020 BLM in the US exclusively meant Bureau of Land Management, perceived by some as a marxist organization as well.

Nicky Samengo-Turner
Nicky Samengo-Turner
1 year ago

and I thought that BLM was British Leyland Motors….

Steven Carr
Steven Carr
1 year ago

Perhaps they could auction off all the English footballer’s shirts which had Black Lives Matter printed on them.
That would raise a few pounds.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Steven Carr

Same problem as baby wipes if you try flushing them down the khazi.

Richard Craven
Richard Craven
1 year ago
Reply to  Steven Carr

Same problem as baby wipes if you try flushing them down the khazi.

Steven Carr
Steven Carr
1 year ago

Perhaps they could auction off all the English footballer’s shirts which had Black Lives Matter printed on them.
That would raise a few pounds.

Todd Kreigh
Todd Kreigh
1 year ago

The end goal of BLM and its ilk was never “equality”, just as the goal of LGBTQ+[whatever] is not equality. The end goal is chaos, and the byproduct of chaos is fear (of which the entire covid fiasco is a prime example). Create enough chaos, eventually we’ll all clamor for authoritarians to step in and solve the problem – as long as we give up a significant number of freedoms along the way. We’ve already seen significant erosion of 1st Amendment freedoms; go against the official Newspeak narrative and you are a dangerous spreader of “misinformation”. And yes, Cullors was never under any illiusion BLM was flying under anything other than a false flag. Her goal from the jump was create the crisis, attract the donors, siphon off the cash, then jump ship before it sank. Mission accomplished.

Todd Kreigh
Todd Kreigh
1 year ago

The end goal of BLM and its ilk was never “equality”, just as the goal of LGBTQ+[whatever] is not equality. The end goal is chaos, and the byproduct of chaos is fear (of which the entire covid fiasco is a prime example). Create enough chaos, eventually we’ll all clamor for authoritarians to step in and solve the problem – as long as we give up a significant number of freedoms along the way. We’ve already seen significant erosion of 1st Amendment freedoms; go against the official Newspeak narrative and you are a dangerous spreader of “misinformation”. And yes, Cullors was never under any illiusion BLM was flying under anything other than a false flag. Her goal from the jump was create the crisis, attract the donors, siphon off the cash, then jump ship before it sank. Mission accomplished.

Simon Neale
Simon Neale
1 year ago

.

Last edited 1 year ago by Simon Neale
Simon Neale
Simon Neale
1 year ago

.

Last edited 1 year ago by Simon Neale