BLM Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors Stepping Down, Claims She Created ‘The Necessary Foundation’ Of Organization
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors is stepping down from her position as the executive director of the political group’s major foundation following heavy criticism over her finances.
Cullors, 37, announced her departure from the role to concentrate on other projects, including the publication of her second book and a television collaboration with Warner Bros., according to the Associated Press.
For more than five years, she was the executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation.
The activist said that she had established “the necessary bones and foundation” at the organization and that the “time is right” for her to go. She claimed that her departure had been planned for over a year and was irrelevant to the examination into her personal finances.
“Those were right-wing attacks that tried to discredit my character, and I don’t operate off of what the right thinks of me,” Cullors said.
The New York Post revealed in April that Cullors had bought four properties for $3.2 million, which brought attention to her finances.
Hawk Newsome, the executive director of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, responded to the revelation by calling for a “independent investigation” of the foundation’s finances. The two organizations are not connected in any way.
Cullors maintained at the time that claims that she profited from contributions intended for Black Lives Matter were “categorically untrue.” She denied receiving a salary from the organization, claiming that she earned money from other sources, including book sales and a YouTube partnership.
Cullors maintained at the time that claims that she profited from contributions intended for Black Lives Matter were “categorically untrue.” She denied receiving a salary from the organization, claiming that she earned money from other sources, including book sales and a YouTube partnership.
“I think I will probably be less visible, because I won’t be at the helm of one of the largest, most controversial organizations right now in the history of our movement,” Cullors said regarding her approaching exit from the foundation.
Cullors earned a total of $120,000 in compensation from 2013 to 2019, according to the foundation.
“As a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, (the foundation) cannot and did not commit any organizational resources toward the purchase of personal property by any employee or volunteer. Any insinuation or assertion to the contrary is categorically false.” the foundation stated in a statement.
