As we highlighted yesterday, Hawk Newsome, who heads up a Black Lives Matter group in Greater New York City, made the call for an investigation, telling the New York Post âIf you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes.â
Newsome said âblack firms and black accountantsâ should conduct an audit on BLM Global Network Foundation to âfind out where the money is going.â
âItâs really sad because it makes people doubt the validity of the movement and overlook the fact that itâs the people that carry this movement,â Newsome added.
After labelling the developments a âfalse and dangerous storyâ being pushed by âright wing forcesâ and âwhite supremacistsâ, it has now emerged that BLM is attempting to silence other black activists who are speaking out.
The Daily Caller sought comments from BLM, and the group claimed that Newsome âis not and has never been a part of the official Black Lives Matter organization, but continues to use BLMâs name even after sending him multiple cease and desist letters. Therefore, any mention of him as a leader is not factual.â
BLMâs communications arm further noted that âOnly BLM chapters who adhere to BLMâs principles and code of ethics are permitted to use the BLM name.â
Responding to the comments, Newsome said âSo the issue has become my affiliation and not the use of funds. Interesting.â
The Daily Caller report also notes that BLM does not own any rights to the name âBlack Lives Matterâ, that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office routinely rejects applications to trade mark the name, and that Newsome registered his own organization, Black Lives Matter Greater New York, as a business entity in December 2016.
âThis movement belongs to the people,â Newsome commented, adding âIt is for the people and by the people. It is the people that take to the streets and march in the name of BLM. No one has ownership of that. It is the equivalent of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. claiming ownership of the civil rights movement.â
When The Daily Caller presented these facts to the BLM spokesperson, the group began back peddling, noting âWe are saying [Newsome] is not affiliated with BLM Global Network Foundation,â
âThere may be individuals who include the words âBlack Lives Matterâ in their organizational names, but they are not affiliated with BLMGNF. Does that make sense?â the spokesperson added.
The case continues to evolve, but it is clear that grassroots activists are now questioning the validity of those at the top of the BLM pyramid.
How is this any different from these “preachers” who do exactly the same thing?
I think Ray Stevens said it best…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZaxRNJIj4