This week, Amazon removed Black Lives Matter from their AmazonSmile charity program for failing to explain where $60 million in donations went.
AmazonSmile, which distributes 0.5 percent of eligible purchases to charitable organizations, still shows dozens of local Black Lives Matter (BLM) chapters among its thousands of authorized charities, but the BLMGNF, the BLM movement’s national arm, is glaringly absent.
“We offer the AmazonSmile program to make it easier for our customers to support their favorite charitable organizations,” an Amazon spokesman told Fox News Digital. “We aim to offer a broad range of organizations, including those striving to address racial injustice.” “Nonprofits are subject to state regulations, and organizations participating in AmazonSmile must adhere to those regulations. Unfortunately, this group disbanded.
“In the interim, consumers who have already picked them in AmazonSmile can continue to support them, and we’ll hold any monies accumulated until they’re back in compliance,” says the company.
The Washington Examiner was the first to report on the suspension.
According to the Examiner, the announcement comes after BLMGNF shut down all of its online fundraising earlier this month in response to demands from attorneys general in California and Washington that it provide late financial declarations for 2020.
On Feb. 3, a BLMGNF representative informed FOX Business, “We take these problems seriously and have taken quick action.” “We hired compliance counsel right away to handle any difficulties with state fundraising compliance.” In the meanwhile, we’ve turned off internet fundraising while we work on the project.
According to the Examiner, BLMGNF was still in violation in California, Washington, New Jersey, North Carolina, Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, Maine, and Virginia as of Wednesday.
According to an impact report released at the end of 2020, Black Lives Matter raised $90 million, spent $8.4 million on operational expenditures, distributed $21.7 million in grants to 33 other organizations, and ended the year with a $60 million balance. BLM has not officially named anyone in charge of the almost $60 million bankroll since its co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, departed in May 2021, according to an investigation by the Examiner.
It is unclear who leads BLMGNF, according to the right-wing charity watchdog Influence Watch.
Several local BLM organizations, as well as the families of Black victims killed by police, have joined forces.