Deception in black: what the US Department of Justice found in Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter movement is back in the headlines — and, sadly, not because of the struggle for the rights of the black population. This time, the attention of the activists is focused on the part of the US Department of Justice, which has initiated an investigation to verify the financial abuses of the fund's management. However, the scandals surrounding the BLM have become almost as constant an element of the American agenda as the debate about political correctness. Read more about what went wrong with the organization that promised to change America in the Izvestia article.

Another scandal: what are the plans of the US Department of Justice

The US Department of Justice is conducting a large-scale investigation into the leaders of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Investigators have come to the attention of possible cases of fraud and misuse of tens of millions of dollars raised by the organization in the form of donations during the 2020 protests. The corresponding statement was published on Thursday, October 30 by the Associated Press (AP) agency, citing informed sources.

In recent weeks, federal law enforcement agencies have issued several subpoenas and at least one search warrant. The investigation concerns the activities of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and a number of activist-led related organizations. They were the ones who played a key role in initiating a national discussion about systemic racism in the United States.

Sources familiar with the situation claim that the investigation began during the administration of former President Joe Biden, but it noticeably intensified after Donald Trump came to power. The new course of the republican administration, according to experts, implies stricter control over the financing of protest and politically active left-wing organizations.

Representatives of the Black Lives Matter Foundation deny all charges, stating that their activities are completely transparent and based on the principles of openness. The organization confirmed that it had received court summonses, but stressed that they themselves were not the subject of a federal criminal investigation.

Nevertheless, experts note that the situation may develop rapidly. The scale of the inspections, the involvement of the Ministry of Justice, and the existence of a search warrant attest to the seriousness of the authorities' intentions. Scandals related to the finances of the BLM have repeatedly been the subject of public discussion, and the current investigation may become the most high-profile episode in the history of the movement.

Millions in question

After record collections in 2020, when the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement received tens of millions of dollars in donations, public attention quickly shifted from slogans to financial statements.

In 2021, journalists found out that the co-founder of the movement, Patrice Khan-Kallors, had purchased several houses in California and Georgia for about $ 3.2 million. In response to accusations of lavish living, she said she was the victim of "racist attacks," but soon left the post of executive director.

Later, the new head of the Shalomiya Bowers foundation found himself at the center of a new scandal — he was accused of transferring $ 10 million from the organization's accounts to his own consulting company. According to tax reports, of the 90 million collected in 2020, less than a third remained by 2022, and a significant portion of the expenses were for administrative needs and management travel.

Against the background of growing distrust, the foundation had to face a massive exodus of donors. In 2022, Amazon excluded the BLM from its charity program, and total donations dropped by more than 90%. The decline in trust has also affected public support for the movement. Even new cases of police violence no longer evoke the same response. Thus, the death of Keenan Anderson, who died after using a taser, did not lead to large-scale protests.

In an interview with Izvestia, Veronika Sharova, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Political Science at the National Academy of Economics, shared her opinion. She believes that today there is no such social and psychological background as there was during the pandemic, Society is no longer in a state of confusion and distrust of the authorities, so a large-scale explosion, as after the death of George Floyd, should not be expected.

— In 2020, society was in a state of confusion, sometimes even panic, and dissatisfaction with the actions of the authorities amid the coronavirus pandemic and related economic difficulties. Now this factor has mostly been removed. It is likely that a large—scale social explosion will be avoided this time," the expert noted.

Amid scandals and declining reputation, the Black Lives Matter movement is experiencing the deepest crisis in its history — and the organization's future directly depends on whether it can regain the trust of society.

It started beautifully

The history of Black Lives Matter is known to almost everyone. It all started with a short but powerful hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter, which appeared in 2013 after the acquittal of the policeman who shot teenager Trayvon Martin. Then three activists named Patrisse Kallors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi called for attention to systemic racism and police violence against black Americans.

In the early years, the BLM existed as a decentralized community of activists who organized rallies, online campaigns, and marches. But after the death of George Floyd in 2020, the movement literally exploded. The largest protests in decades took place across the country. The hashtag has become a global symbol, and the movement's logo has become a recognizable brand.

The wave of public support resulted in record financial revenues. Individuals, large corporations, IT companies, and show business stars contributed their contributions. The donations were followed by offers of cooperation. BLM has participated in partnership projects with media, educational and cultural organizations.

However, the rapid growth had a downside. The movement, conceived as a horizontal network of activists, began to turn into a complex system of foundations, branches and NGOs. In the absence of centralized control and transparent reporting, internal conflicts and questions about how funds are allocated have begun. Critics point out that the ideals of social justice have gradually given way to the personal interests of individual leaders.

Political alliance and the reverse effect

As the influence and funding of the BLM grew, it began to be perceived not just as a social initiative, but as a full-fledged, active political force with its inherent methods of pressure and controversy.

BLM supporters have adopted not only the language of protests, but also tools of political influence, such as calls for the "abolition" of deputies, support for pro-social candidates, and stated demands on big business and the media. The fact that the movement has become a prominent player on the political scene is reinforced by the fact that it often confronts not only Republicans, but also representatives of the Democratic Party, whom it has traditionally considered its allies.

Critics point out that over time, the range of BLM statements and actions has expanded and radicalized. One of the arguments is the conclusion that the 2020 BLM protests were accompanied by a wave of clashes, pogroms and an increase in crime in US cities, which triggered a response mobilization of right-wing and far-right groups.

Social surveys also confirm the changing perception of the movement in American society. According to the Pew Research Center, the proportion of American adults who support BLM has fallen from two-thirds in mid-2020 to about 51% in 2023.

In the political context, this has led some African-American voters to start moving away from the Democratic camp. This phenomenon is called "Blexit". The reason is not only dissatisfaction with the speed of change, but also the feeling that protests have ceased to be an instrument of systemic reforms, turning into a field of ideological and political games.

Oleg Barabanov, program director of the Valdai Club, notes that the BLM movement, used by the Elite of the Democratic Party, provided "capitalization on the symbol of racial justice." After Joe Biden's election victory, the struggle for symbols turned out to be more than real changes.

As a result, the BLM has reached a turning point. So, on the one hand, the movement represents significant authority and visibility, and on the other hand, a decrease in public support, an increase in criticism and the risk of losing the role of a unifying movement.