Division rocks Black Lives Matter leadership over looting of $10 million donation 
Shalomyah Bowers, leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, has been accused of embezzling over $10 million in donations from the organisation for personal use.
This is according to a lawsuit filed by Black Lives Matter Grassroots against Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation.
The case filed in Los Angeles County Superior – Central District describes the tussle with Mr Bowers as “a case of a rogue administrator, a middleman, turned usurper, who was hired to collect donations and account for expenditures of Black Lives Matter movement, formally operating as Black Lives Matter Grassroots, Inc. (“BLM”).”
The complaint filed by Los Angeles attorney Walter Mosley says that Mr Bowers used Black Lives Matter, or BLM, as his “personal piggy bank” and accuses him of “betray[ing] the public trust by self-dealing and breaching his fiduciary duties.”
The complaint alleges that Mr Bowers has taken control of Black Lives Matter’s financial and social media accounts, shutting out its founders and most prominent organisers, like Melina Abdullah.
Mr Bowers acts as the board secretary of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the non-profit organisation that serves as the movement’s administrative arm.
“Black Lives Matter Grassroots is Black Lives Matter. We were founded in 2013 by dedicated activists, and many of the same people are still doing the work.” Ms Abdullah said. “Today, we are demanding the return of the resources that rightfully belong to the people and the movement.”
BLM Grassroots also alleges that its Global Network Foundation and Mr Bowers engaged in dishonest business practices, deliberate misrepresentation, fraud, conversion, and unjust enrichment, all violations of the California Business & Professional Code Section 17200.
The Global Network Foundation dismissed the claims by Ms Abdullah, saying its board had reached out to Ms Abdullah for “private mediation or meetings with Melina Abdullah and BLM Grassroots, including and regarding social media policies.”
The organisation maintains that all its requests were turned down.
“Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) is here to give light and fight for Black liberation. Make no mistake, the allegations of Melina Abdullah and BLM Grassroots (BLMGR) are false. They are slanderous and devoid of reality,” the organisation said in a statement.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Showbiz
Renowned Ijala chanter Alabi Ogundepo dies at 84
A Yoruba oral poet, actor, and Ijala chanter, Alabi Ogundepo, has died at age 84. His family announced the multi-talented artist’s death on Monday.
States
EU empowers Katsina officials to lead effective peacebuilding efforts
Mercy Corps has strengthened Katsina government officials’ capacity to lead effective, inclusive, and results-oriented action planning for peacebuilding and development.
Africa
U.S. to host Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia energy delegation
The delegation of about 15 people will visit Denver, Colorado and Austin, Texas, to meet with American energy companies and “integrate AI-enabled grid control systems”.
Rights
Trump initiates plans to revoke visas of 200,000 asylum seekers
“People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated.
Economy
NNPCL, SNEPCo, Esso, Agip seal deepwater Bonga deal, target $21 billion investment
NNPCL and the OML 118 contractor parties have executed the addendum to the OML 118 Production Sharing Contract and the addendum to the Dispute Settlement Agreement.
Economy
AiNET, CEO settle with U.S. SEC over submitting claims for data centre services
The U.S. alleged that the AiNET data centre failed to comply with Tier III standards and that AiNET and Mr Jain falsely certified to the SEC that it was Tier IV.
