Introduction
In recent news, there have been claims circulating about the real estate purchases made by a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Khan-Cullors. These claims suggest that she used donations from the movement to bankroll her personal property acquisitions. However, it is crucial to examine the available evidence and provide context to determine the legitimacy of such claims.
The Claim: Black Lives Matter Donations Helped Bankroll Co-Founder's Home Purchases
A report by the New York Post brought attention to the real estate purchases made by Khan-Cullors since 2016. Social media users quickly associated these purchases with personal enrichment from the Black Lives Matter movement, leading to widespread discussions and speculations. However, there is currently no evidence to support the idea that Khan-Cullors utilized donations from Black Lives Matter to fund the purchase of her four homes.
Image: Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors poses for a photo at the Summit LA18 in Los Angeles in 2018.
Real Estate Purchased
The New York Post reported that Khan-Cullors acquired four properties in recent years, with two purchases predating the surge of attention and donations to Black Lives Matter in 2020. Three of the properties are situated in the Los Angeles area, while one is located in suburban Atlanta. Public records verify Khan-Cullors' connection to all three Los Angeles properties. However, there is limited information available regarding the purchase of the fourth property in Topanga Canyon.
Image: A Black Lives Matter demonstrator waves a flag on the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the Bloody Sunday commemoration in Selma, Ala.
Were Purchases Connected to BLM?
The crucial question here is whether Khan-Cullors' property purchases are linked to her role in Black Lives Matter, as implied by the claims. As fact-checkers, we follow the principle of burden of proof, which places the responsibility on the claimant to substantiate their statement. In this case, no proof of such a connection was provided in the original post, and our research found no evidence to support it either. Documentation related to the organization's finances is limited, given its nature and Khan-Cullors' employment history.
The New York Post report triggered criticism of the real estate purchases, including from the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit. The center's chairman emphasized the importance of transparency in nonprofit organizations' fund allocation. It is worth noting that the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, to which Khan-Cullors is associated, obtained its official non-profit designation in December and will be required to disclose public tax documents in the future. However, no such filings have been made as of now.
Khan-Cullors has firmly denied any connection between her property purchases and her role in Black Lives Matter. In a prepared statement, she emphasized that the organization did not allocate any resources toward the purchase of her personal property. She also highlighted her various professional engagements, including being a public speaker, an author with book deals, and a Warner Brothers content developer.
Our Rating: Missing Context
The claim that Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, bought four luxury homes is deemed to be missing context. Without additional information, such claims could be misleading. Our investigation found no evidence to support the assertion that funds from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation were used for these property purchases. Khan-Cullors, in addition to her involvement with the organization, has pursued several other professional ventures, such as writing a memoir and developing content for Warner Brothers.
Our Fact-Check Sources:
- The Associated Press, Feb. 23, AP Exclusive: Black Lives Matter opens up about its finances
- Patrisse Cullors' Instagram
- National Legal and Policy Center, April 10, Black Lives Matter Founder Patrisse Cullors Owns Expensive Real Estate
- The New York Post, April 10, Inside BLM co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors’ million-dollar real estate buying binge
- Patrisse Cullors' Website
- The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 15, 2020, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors lands Warner Bros. TV production deal
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