Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty
Leaders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation are in a bit of trouble.
A recent New York Magazine article, accuses the Black Lives Matter of several allegations of money mismanagement. The accusations stemmed from the foundation using funds for inappropriate purchases including a $6 million house in Studio City, California.
One of the founders, Patrisse Cullors, responded to the accusations in a lengthy nine-page post on Instagram.
Yesterday’s article in New York Magazine is a despicable abuse of a platform that’s intended to provide truthful information to the public.
Journalism is supposed to mitigate harm and inform our communities.
That fact that a reputable publication would allow a reporter, with a proven and very public bias against me and other Black leaders, to write a piece filled with misinformation, innuendo and incendiary opinions, is disheartening and unacceptable.
The journalist who wrote the article is Sean Campbell.
The bias that Patrisse Cullors is referring to is another article he wrote in January, on the money matters of BLMGNF.
Campbell infers that the three founders, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, may have used the money from the donations during 2020’s George Floyd protests to fund the compound. Patrisse Cullors stepped down from her position at the organization back in May 2021 to focus on other pursuits. The property was purchased in 2020 as a safe space for Black people in the community to create and cultivate new ideas. Patrisse Cullors clarifies that in the Instagram post as well, stating that she does not know what the property is used for now since her departure.
The property was purchased the same month that BLMGNF had received $66.5 million from its fiscal sponsor, which dished them donations made by plenty of supporters. Campbell isn’t the first person to question the direction of BLMGNF. Campbell states that he spoke to members in local chapters of the organization, and they don’t know who is steering the ship of the movement or where the funds go.
Patrisse Cullors also spoke on the cost of the Studio City hub for the Black community.
The reason it [the house] wasn’t announced prior is not nefarious as the headline infers, the property needed repairs and renovation. I do not own the property, have never lived there and made that clear to the reporter.
I have never misappropriated funds, and it pains me that so many people have accepted that narrative without the presence of tangible truth or facts.
It doesn’t look good for the most prominent modern civil rights movement to have information like this come out, whether it be true or not.
Either way it gives right-winged organizations more fuel to their disdain for the movement. The lack of transparency from its leaders and organization really doesn’t help in proving their case. BLMGMF is even still under investigation in multiple states after they didn’t submit their 2020 tax forms by the extension deadline of November 2021.
Patrisse Cullors apologized for the lack of public communication because of the constant threat of white supremacist terror and real threats on her life and the people she loves.
