Photo: AFP
The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation following accusations that it misused millions of dollars in donations amid the 2020 racial justice protests, per CBS News.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc., a nonprofit separate from the broader protest movement, reported raising over $90 million in 2020 as donations poured in following George Floyd's police killing, which spurred nationwide demonstrations and a racial reckoning.
However, the organization has long faced criticism over financial transparency. Scrutiny intensified following revelations that the group used more than $6 million in donations to purchase a Los Angeles property.
In a 2022 post defending the purchase, the Black Lives Matter Global Network foundation said the house “serves as a space for Black folks to share their gifts with the world and hone their craft as they see fit, under the conditions that work best for them and in a safe space free from systems of oppression that exist in various creative industries.”
According to a source familiar with the matter, the DOJ launched a probe into the foundation's alleged misuse of funds, which is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. It remains unclear when the investigation began.
In a statement, the organization said it “is not a target of any federal criminal investigation.”
“We remain committed to full transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of resources dedicated to building a better future for Black communities,” the group said.
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