Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, is facing questions and calls for an investigation over reports that she has bought several homes. No investigation or charges had been announced at the time of this story.
According to reports, property records show about $3.2 million in homes tied to Cullors, including a $1.4 million home in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles. Black Lives Matter supporters and volunteers have asked how she afforded them, noting that donations to the movement topped $90 million last year.
Hank Newsome, who has described himself as an affiliate of the Black Lives Matter of Greater New York chapter, called for an investigation into whether Cullors is paid directly by the movement and how much she personally gives to charitable causes. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has said he is not formally affiliated with the organization.
The foundation pushed back in a statement. It said Cullors serves as executive director as a volunteer and does not receive a salary or benefits. It said she has received a total of $120,000 since 2013 for work such as serving as spokesperson and political education, and that she received no compensation after 2019.
The foundation also said it did not put any organizational money toward personal property purchases, calling any suggestion otherwise “categorically false.”
For context, Cullors has other public sources of income. Her memoir, When They Call You a Terrorist, was a best seller, and in October 2020 she signed a multi platform deal with Warner Bros. Television.
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