Amazon's charity site has been suspended by Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, (BLMGNF), amid concerns about financial transparency.
AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of purchases to designated charities . However, there are still a number of Black Lives Matter (BLM), local chapters, and the BLMGNF, which is the national arm for the BLM movement.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that AmazonSmile is a program that makes it easy for customers to support charities. AmazonSmile is subject to the rules of each state. We had to suspend the program temporarily because this company was not in compliance with several state rules.
"We hope this happens soon. In the meantime, customers who selected them in AmazonSmile can continue supporting them. We'll keep any funds accrued up until they're in compliance.
The Washington Examiner first reported the suspension.
This news comes as BLMGNF had to close all its online fundraising earlier in the month after being compelled by Washington and California attorneys generals to submit 2020 financial disclosures, according to the Examiner.
FOX Business spoke with a spokesperson for BLMGNF on February 3. "We immediately retained compliance counsel to address any issues relating to state fundraising compliance. We have temporarily stopped online fundraising while we quickly work to meet all compliance requirements.
The Examiner reported that BLMGNF was still not in compliance in California, Washington and New Jersey, North Carolina. Connecticut, Colorado. Maryland, Maine, Virginia, and North Carolina as of Wednesday.
Black Lives Matter reported that at the end of 2020 it had raised $90 million and spent $8.4million in operating expenses. It also distributed $21.7 million in grants (to 33 organizations) and ended the year with a balance of $60 million. The Examiner's investigation found that BLM has not named any person responsible for the bankroll of roughly $60 million since its cofounder, PatrisseCullors, resigned May 2021.
The right-leaning charity watchdog Infuse Watch does not indicate who is leading BLMGNF.
Numerous local BLM chapters, as well as the families of Black victims of police brutality, have voiced their disapproval at the BLMGNF. They demanded that it pay millions to Black communities.
