'It's not my personal real estate. 'Our firm stepped in when Black Lives Matter had no structure and no staff,' he said. The post BLM founder Patrisse Cullors $1.4M home draws criticism, call for investigation appeared first on TheGrio. Theyre trying to right the ship. is wishing that we could have paused for one to two years, to just not do any work and just focus on the infrastructure, she said in the interview. Justin Hansford, a professor at the Howard University School of Law, said the stakes were high because the public could not always differentiate between the Black Lives Matter movement and one specific organization. After Raising $90 Million in 2020, Black Lives Matter Has $42 Million in Assets The organization offered the first official accounting of its finances recently, disclosing a filing to the. All Black activists know the fear these malicious and serious actions are meant to instill: the fear of being silenced, the trauma of being targeted, the torture of feeling ones family is exposed to danger just for speaking out against unjust systems. Bowers is a close associate of BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who resigned from BLMGNF in May 2021 after allegations she misused millions of dollars in donation money. She also addressed allegations that she personally benefited from the foundation's purchase of the $6 million California property, whichwas intended to be a 'media creation space' for BLM, a campus for a black artists fellowship and a home for activists. The documentsreveal that BLM paid a company owned by Damon Turner, the father of Cullors' child, nearly$970,000 to help 'produce live events' and provide other 'creative services.'. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Defund police backer, Squad member Cori Bush marries her security guard, How Black Lives Matter is indoctrinating your kids and what you can do about it, Revised AP African American Studies curriculum delivers course students deserve, AP African American studies course changed after DeSantis criticism. In a poll, 78 percent of voters from the Third Congressional District say theyve seen enough of their representative. All rights reserved. Back in April 2021, Cullors uploaded a video to her personal YouTube channel titled I Try Baking a Family Recipe for the FIRST Time *INTENSE* the first in an intended series called Patrisse Tries, in which she would attempt unfamiliar tasks. "While BLM leaders and movement workers were on the street risking their lives, Mr. Bowers remained in his cushy offices devising a scheme of fraud and misrepresentation to break the implied-in-fact contract between donors and BLM. Patrisse Cullors is the Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF). Were making it clear to Black people that were an institution and that were here to stay, said Mr. Bowers. Those expenses included grants of $500,000 each to Black Lives Matter groups in Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit and elsewhere. The U.S. Is Choosing Child Labor Over More Immigration. BLM revealed last February it raked in $90 million in 2020 from big corporations and individual donors after the police killing of George Floyd and the nationwide riots that followed. The median home price has cooled off to $790,000, a notable drop from last year's price of $925,000, Redfin data showed." BLM took in over $90 million last year: Critics of the foundation contend more of that money should have gone to the families of Black victims of police brutality who have been unable to. Young White Core Americans must make 220 by 2040 a well advertised and well known environmental goal for the population of the USA. This included grants of $2.3 million to the non-profit organization Living Through Giving Foundation, $1.4 million to The Michael O.D. Bowers is one of three members of the board. ", Shalomyah Bowers, left, Cicley Gay, center, and D'Zhane Parker pose for a portrait on May 13, 2022, in Atlanta. We have, you know, all these conversations about equal pay for black women. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation announced the massive influx of money late Tuesday the very first time BLM has disclosed its finances in its nearly eight-year history. The state has a near-total abortion ban, and now activists and GOP officials are fighting an exemption for physician-defined medical emergencies. The narratives being spread about Patrisse have been generated by right-wing forces intent on reducing the support and influence of a movement that is larger than any one organization. A lawsuit filed on behalf of 26 grassroots Black Lives Matter (BLM) chapters last week alleged that the leader of the national organization siphoned $10 million in charitable contributions to pay for his own personal expenses. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has taken in about $90 million in 2020, when racial unrest exploded nationwide after the killing by police of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor,. This story has been shared 130,838 times. A consulting firm run by Shalomyah Bowers (pictured), who is BLM's board secretary and has previously served as deputy executive director, was paid more than $2.1 million for providing the organization with operational support. 'When resources came in, when opportunities came in, (the foundation) alone would be the ones to decide who was going to take advantage of them, without having to take any consideration of the other organizers whose work was giving them the access to these resources and opportunities in the first place,' said Ndgo, who organized a group of chapters that confronted the foundation over issues of transparency and accountability. I think theyve attempted to cancel us, but they have not been successful in canceling us, Abdullah said at another point in the conversation. I dont need to be accountable to you, she said. Who the fuck are you? It means investing in black communities, trusting them with their dollars. ', Cullorshad said previously that her sister, mother, and brother were employed with BLM, D'Zhane Parker, left, Cicley Gay, center, and Shalomyah Bowers pose for a portrait on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Atlanta. In 2020, the BLM foundation ended with a balance of more than $60 million after committing $21.7 million in grant funding to both official and unofficial BLM chapters, in addition to 30 Black-led local organizations. The distinction meant the group would have to disclose information about donors and expenditures in an annual filing known as a 990. Can you guess whats total rubbish and whats something an honest-to-God prince wrote in an actual book? Black Lives Matter has come under fiscal scrutiny since 2020, when the group received $90 million in donations amid protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The group informally released a batch of financial information in February 2021, when it said it had taken in more than $90 million in 2020 and still had $60 million on hand. BLM released its 2020 impact report, which showed that the organization granted $21.7 million to multiple Black local organizations and BLM chapters. Its an example of how Cullors acted as both the head of BLMGNF and cultivated a lucrative public profile at the same time; when she quit the organization, she said it was to focus on media deals shed signed with a book publisher and Warner Bros. (A lawyer for Cullors declined to comment on the record.). BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors received $120,000 for 'consulting fees' andreimbursed BLM $73,523 for a charter flight. Two paid staff members would rarely be enough to manage a $90 million organization. So far neither bill has passed both chambers of Congress. The group's former leader Patrisse Cullors is seen above, The filing shows that the group's lobbying spending was devoted in part to 'lobby member[s] of Congress to vote in favor of impeachment.' In an emailed statement on April 1, Shalomyah Bowers, a BLMGNF board member, said that the organization bought Campus with the intention for it to serve as housing and studio space for recipients of the Black Joy Creators Fellowship. The fellowship, which provides recording resources and dedicated space for Black creatives to launch content online and in real life focused on abolition, healing justice, urban agriculture and food justice, pop culture, activism, and politics, was announced the following morning. The Studio City property, which includes a home with six bedrooms and bathrooms, a swimming pool, a soundstage and office space, was intended as a campus for a black artists fellowship and is currently used for that purpose, the board member said. The Key Moments From Alex Murdaughs Testimony and Murder Trial. The founder of BLM inc. just bought a $1.5 Million compound in Topanga Canyon, the 4th whitest neighborhood in LA BLM raised $90 million last year. The two notions that the house is simultaneously a confidential refuge and a place for broadcasting to the widest possible audience are somewhat in tension. Leaders have attempted to justify the expenseby saying the foundation's protection could not be entrusted to former police professionals who typically run security firms because the BLM movement is known for vehemently protesting law enforcement organizations. We've received your submission. Ms. This system that gives billion dollar companies millions in hardship funds, when their owners (also billionaires) can afford to use their own wealth instead of public funds is the source of frustration. But it was the 2014 death of Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, that made the slogan 'Black lives matter' a rallying cry for progressives and a favorite target of derision for conservatives. "Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) is here to give light and fight for Black liberation," the statement said in part. But critics say the BLM Global Network Foundation has increasingly moved away from being a black organizing network and has become a philanthropic and political organization run without democratic input. The statement continues: Patrisses work for Black people over the years has made her and others who align with the fight for Black liberation targets of racist violence. The foundation said it collected over $90 million in 2020 alone and committed $21.7 million in funding to various BLM chapters and grassroots organizations. However, despite spending more than $37 million on grants, real estate, consultants, and other expenses, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation is still worth tens of millions of dollars, according to tax documents filed with the IRS. It also has problems at the state level: The Washington Examiner reported in February 2022 that Californias attorney general told the group it was considered delinquent. Could Alec Baldwin Really Go to Prison for the. Do not sell or share my personal information. The co-founder's brother, Paul Cullors, receivedmore than $840,000 for providing security services to the foundation. The "Outnumbered" panel discussed the scandal and the repercussions on the broader "Black Lives Matter" movement itself. However, she argues that the decision not to receive an annual wage from BLM actually came from a place of good intention. Ted Cruz accuses AG Merrick Garland of ignoring threats to Supreme Court justices and crisis pregnancy centers in VERY heated Senate exchange, Psychologist reveals the most common phrases that NARCISSISTS use to manipulate you during EVERY stage of a relationship, New York City man, 43, is arrested after hijacking American Airlines BUS from JFK Airport then taking it on a 17-mile joyride through Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan before being caught, Rolling with the punches! "For us, getting to do flyovers is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said the member who spoke on the condition of anonymity . Legal Statement. Former Black Lives Matter leader Patrisse Cullors (pictured March 2022) admitted the charity was not prepared to handle the influx of 'white guilt money' donated after the murder of George Floyd and said mistakes made with the funds are now being 'weaponized against her', Black Lives Matter spent $6M on a mansion in Studio City, California, The Toronto mansion was purchased with funds that came from an $8M BLMGNF grant. She paid the foundation an additional $390 over her uses of the 6,500 square-foot Studio City property for two private events. The filing also shows that BLMGNF co-founder Patrisse Cullors was the group's only voting director for the period in question, and held no board meetings. Its currently not possible to share the Posts article on Cullorss home purchases on Facebook because the sites parent company, Meta, has labeled the content abusive. At other points, Bowers and his associates direct a private investigator to look into BLMGNF detractors and journalists, including me. All were purchased in 2020 following the success of the foundation's fundraising campaign, She also owns the above home, valued at $1.4million, which is located in scenic Topanga Canyon. The Foundation ended 2020 with a . Among her self-identified mistakes was opting not to take a salary, which Cullors claims fueled the accusations of financial mishandling. He said that investigations by state and federal agencies could be warranted. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. Read More: Devale Ellis pens childrens book on #BLM: Its my lifes journey. Paul Cullors, Patrisses brother, whose title is head of physical security, updated the group on the situation. The foundation widely seen as a steward of the Black Lives Matter movement says it took in just over $90 million last year, according to a financial snapshot shared exclusively with the. And that often means lots of mistakes are being made, lots of amazing decisions as well,' Cullors added. Cullors, 37, has reportedly purchased four high-end homes for $3.2 million in the U.S. alone, per New York Post, including property in a Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles County for $1.4 million . The lawsuit was announced at a news conference Thursday hosted by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles co-founder Melina Abdullah, who said that Bowers shut her and other leaders out of the BLM social media accounts in March by changing the passwords. In the meantime, contributions to the group have been essentially shut down. Newsomes organization, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York which he represents during television appearances and interviews is not affiliated with Black Lives Matter Global Network, which was co-founded by Cullors along with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi. Privacy Policy and The foundation told AP that it committed $21.7 million in grant funding to official and unofficial BLM chapters, as well as 30 Black-led local organizations. Noah Goldberg covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. (Other videos from Cullorss personal YouTube channel also appear to match images of the houses interior shown in real-estate listings.) Thanks for contacting us. More than half of the lobbying spend was categorized as 'other activities'. The Black Lives Matter foundation and its finances have come under scrutiny for its use of donated funds. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Make no mistake, the allegations of Melina Abdullah and BLM Grassroots (BLMGR) are false. 'I'm a human being that has made mistakes that want to change, want to challenge those mistakes and want to learn from those mistakes,' she said. On a sunny day late last spring, three leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Melina Abdullah sat around a table on the patio of an expensive house in Southern California. This is what I'm going to do. Within a week, Pascall transferred ownership of the house to an LLC established in Delaware by the law firm Perkins Coie. This right-wing offensive not only puts Patrisse, her child and her loved ones in harms way, it also continues a tradition of terror by white supremacists against Black activists. Until then, the foundation had not been transparent with the most devoted BLM organizers, many of whom accused Cullors of shutting them out of decisions about how financial resources would be allocated. They shouldnt be walking around no Black people, no Black communities, he said of the organizations leaders. During the fiscal year covered by the tax form, the only voting board member was Patrisse Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter. Many local groups that are part of the movement have called for more transparency and a greater role in making decisions, as well as more money for the organizations led by activists on the ground. 2024 Polls Show DeSantis Cant Easily Knock Out Trump. The donations exploded following the May 2020 death of George Floyd, whose death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer sparked protests across the US and around the world, the foundation said. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, Brunt of storm moving out of SoCal, light showers on tap Wednesday, Master Gardener: Touring Rosedown Plantation, Rugged wheelchairs help people with impaired mobility navigate outdoor terrain, FBI director points to Wuhan lab leak as 'likely' origin of COVID-19. Despite the hype about Ron DeSantis surging past Donald Trump, both Republicans look unusually strong at this early stage of the presidential race. On the secure-messaging platform Signal, in a text chat named BLM Security Hub, around two dozen participants from BLMGNF, Bowers Consulting, Janaya and Patrisse Consulting, and various other organizations and companies commingle. Cullors, during Monday's interview, defended the actions she the BLM board's sole voting director and argued that like all people she is subject to human error. The police had even pulled over his friend in a different car earlier, gave him a ticket for no insurance and license and let the guy that took my car come and get in . Last year, Russell put out a video with Michael Brown Sr., whose son was killed by a police officer in August 2014, demanding money from BLMGNF to help people living in Ferguson, and hes since been struggling to raise $1.2 million for a community center. BLMGNF said it had raised more than $90 million in 2020. 'I was, like, I'm going to come in, I'm going to support this organization. Bowers was hired by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors in 2020 to help raise and distribute money to groups within the foundation. A: No. This story has been shared 102,555 times. Download theGrio today! The documents also show that she used charity funds to pay her friends and family large sums for various 'consulting' services, as well as charter a private flight. We knew that it needed some repairs, and it needed fixing, and that it would need to be shared,' Cullors explained. The tax filing also shows that nearly $6 million was spent on a Los Angeles-area compound. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Why arent you spending it on policy or, you know, other strategies that an organization might take to address the core issues around Black Lives Matter?. The one story you shouldnt miss today, selected by, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, It Sure Doesnt Seem Like Havana Syndrome Is Russias Fault. The tax filing shows the group invested $32 million in stocks from the $90 million it received as donations amid racial justice protests in 2020. The global foundation told the AP that $21.7 million was earmarked for grants to official and unofficial BLM chapters around the country, in addition to 30 black-led groups. 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