(Headline USA) Millions of dollars in funding seems to be missing from the Black Lives Matter organization after several of its co-founders resigned last year, according to the Washington Examiner.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network has been devoid of leadership for months after co-founder Patrisse Cullors stepped down last May, leaving two activists in charge to serve as the organization’s senior directors. However, both of those activists said they turned down the jobs due to disagreements with BLMGN, and that they don’t know who is currently in charge.
“We never actually started in the position, so we never received any detailed information,” said Makani Themba, one of the activists picked to be a senior director.
The two remaining BLM board members, Shalomyah Bowers and Raymond Howard, refused to comment and would not say who is currently in charge of the more than $60 million that BLM has in its coffers, according to financial disclosures.
“Like a giant ghost ship full of treasure drifting in the night with no captain, no discernible crew, and no clear direction,” CharityWatch Executive Director Laurie Styron said of BLM.
Cullors stepped down from the organization after her personal finances came under scrutiny. Activists alleged she was using BLM funds to purchase private property, including two multi-million dollar homes in California. BLM denied the allegations.
Doug White, a charity expert, said it is alarming that BLM leadership won’t answer basic questions about who is in charge of the organization and what they’re doing with its funding.
“Sixty million dollars is not chump change,” White said. “That they won’t give an honest or complete or straightforward answer in regards to its leadership is a concern.
“Not only do they not have an executive director right now, we think, but they also don’t want to tell you how the organization is being run,” he said.
