Black Lives Matter (BLM) took off like a rocket in 2020, riding a wave of social unrest following the tragic death of George Floyd. With the backing of the liberal media, celebrities, and corporations eager to show their progressive credentials, BLM became a household name.
Despite its claims of fighting for black Americans, many critics pointed out that the organization’s actual accomplishments were hard to identify. Sure, it raised awareness, but did it really change lives? Or was it all just a big media spectacle? With donations pouring in and high-profile endorsements stacking up, BLM was swimming in cash, but there was little to show for it.
Fast forward a few years, and the cracks in BLM’s shiny armor have grown into massive fissures. Scandal after scandal has exposed the organization’s leadership for misusing funds, engaging in shady dealings, and outright fraud. What was once hailed as a major movement for racial justice is now struggling to keep its head above water.
As the public gets a closer look at where all that money went, it’s become clear that BLM wasn’t the savior it claimed to be. And now, the global organization is facing its biggest challenge yet—one that could bring it crashing down.
From Fox News:
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation is running out of cash and nearing its end “unless something changes dramatically,” according to a new report…“Capitalizing on the lucrative opportunities afforded to them as high-profile progressives, the three celebrity founders moved on, leaving the operation to wither in the hands of deputies who, sadly, turned on each other. A remarkable spate of legal trouble, brushes with law enforcement, and tangles with the Internal Revenue Service have all but spelled the death of the enterprise that you probably know best as Black Lives Matter,” Free Press reporter Sean Patrick Cooper wrote.
The Money Train Comes to a Halt
BLM Global Network Foundation, once flush with cash, is now running on fumes. According to a recent report by The Free Press, the organization is “nearing its end unless something changes dramatically.”
Back in 2020, BLM raised over $90 million in donations, with corporate America eager to throw money at any cause that would improve their public image. But now, the donations have dried up. What was once a flood of money has turned into a trickle. As people ask, “Where did all the money go?” the answer is anything but reassuring.
Sean Patrick Cooper, who penned the report, reveals how BLM’s leaders capitalized on the movement’s success to enrich themselves. The founders, who became minor celebrities, have since distanced themselves from the day-to-day operations. And those left in charge?
They’ve been embroiled in legal troubles and internal disputes. From IRS investigations to brushes with law enforcement, BLM’s leaders have been accused of mismanagement and fraud. The most recent example involves Sir Maejor Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, a former leader of the Atlanta chapter, who was sentenced to over three years in federal prison for money laundering and wire fraud.
It’s not just about one rogue chapter, though. Cooper describes the organization as a whole as being in chaos, with local chapters fighting national leaders over control of the millions that poured in during the movement’s heyday. Even within the national leadership, there’s division.
BLM Global Network Foundation and BLM Grassroots, two factions that claim to represent the movement, have been at odds for years. The fighting has gotten so bad that California’s attorney general is now demanding financial transparency from the organizations—failure to comply could lead to the revocation of their tax-exempt status.
From Mansions to Mismanagement
As if the financial mismanagement wasn’t bad enough, BLM’s leaders have also been caught living lavish lifestyles. Patrisse Cullors, one of the co-founders, was exposed for purchasing multiple luxury properties, including a mansion in Los Angeles and another in Canada that was marketed as a “transfeminist, queer-affirming space.”
Real estate aside, Cullors has also been accused of funneling money to friends and family for questionable “services.” She’s denied all wrongdoing, but the evidence suggests otherwise.
The report from The Free Press paints a damning picture: BLM raised millions in the name of social justice but failed to use that money to improve the lives of black Americans. Instead, much of it went to lavish homes, vacations, and personal expenses for the leaders. Now, with donations down and their financial situation dire, BLM Global is looking at its possible collapse. In the fiscal year ending June 2023, BLM Global collected $4.6 million in donations but spent $10.8 million. At this rate, the organization’s remaining assets—25 million as of the last report—are rapidly dwindling.
The Final Chapter for BLM?
So, what happened to Black Lives Matter? How did an organization that started with so much promise end up on the brink of collapse? According to Cooper, BLM’s downfall was inevitable. “Maybe, if the founders had been as committed to social justice as to enriching themselves, BLM could have enjoyed a long life as a progressive institution,” he wrote. But that wasn’t the case.
Like so many other movements that lost their way, BLM’s leaders took advantage of the attention and money that came their way, and now they’re paying the price.
With the organization on the verge of losing its tax-exempt status and facing increasing scrutiny from both the public and the media, it’s unclear if BLM can survive.
For now, though, it seems that the organization’s spectacular rise and equally dramatic fall may be all but complete. Black Lives Matter, once the darling of progressives everywhere, is now a cautionary tale about the dangers of mixing activism with opportunism.
Key Takeaways
- Black Lives Matter started strong with widespread support and millions in donations, but has since been crippled by scandals and mismanagement.
- The organization’s leaders have been accused of misusing funds for personal gain, leading to a massive drop in donations and looming financial collapse.
- BLM’s future is uncertain, with legal battles, internal disputes, and declining public support threatening to bring the organization to an end.
Source: Fox News