Bowers was hired by BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors in 2020 to help run the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (GNF), an extension of the grassroots organization Black Lives Matter, the lawsuit said. Bowers denied the allegations made in the lawsuit BLM Grassroots presented at a press conference last week, saying in a statement posted on the BLM website that the allegations are “harmful, divisive and false.” The GNF was originally created by the Cullors “as an administrative organization to raise funds to provide financial support for BLM Grassroots’ local community efforts,” the lawsuit said, while the BLM Grassroots organization did the work “on the ground.”
Cullors initially oversaw the GNF, but in May 2021 she “decided that she could no longer lead the GNF and that she should close and transfer the entire organization to BLM Grassroots,” the lawsuit said. That same month, Cullors briefed Bowers and Melina Abdullah on a “formal transition plan” of the GNF leadership, along with other internal leaders. Abdullah is a co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of BLM. Bowers took issue with that recollection of events in the statement posted on the BLM website. “The BLMGR and Melina Abdullah read a press statement claiming that Patrisse Cullors created a transition plan giving all BLMGNF assets to BLM Grassroots. This is absolutely false,” Bowers said. “Mr. Bowers and the GNF Leadership Council agreed to execute the transition plan set forth by Ms. Calors,” the lawsuit said. “However, Mr. Bowers, who made $2,167,894 million from GNF in less than eight months, decided he wanted to keep the piggy bank that GNF had become for him and his company.” Bowers was also required to disclose certain financial and organizational information from other leaders of the group, but he “refused” to do so, the lawsuit alleges.
“Within months, Bowers had expelled these respected supporters from the organization,” the lawsuit states. “Through a series of misrepresentations and unauthorized backroom dealings, Mr. Bowers was able to steal control of GNF as its sole board member and executive.”
The lawsuit also said Bowers changed the passwords of social media accounts for the grassroots organization and attempted to “trademark BLM Grassroots using the logo and design of BLM Grassroots Chief Angela Waters in something that appears to be an attempt to “steal” the logo. or prevent the use of BLM Grassroots.”
The BLM grassroots organization said in the lawsuit that Bowers has thrown money away. “Mr. Bowers continues to fraudulently raise money from unsuspecting donors posing as the organization doing BLM’s work, lining his own pockets with those of his associates at the expense of BLM’s reputation,” the lawsuit said.
The organization’s grassroots division is asking for a jury trial and accusing Bowers of unfair business practices, fraud and intentional misrepresentation, among other claims.
CNN reached out to Bowers through his consulting firm on Sunday, but did not hear back. The GNF has since responded to the allegations, in a statement saying:
“The BLMGNF Board requested — on more than ten occasions — private mediation or meetings with Melina Abdullah and BLM Grassroots, including regarding social media policies. We did this to stay true to abolitionist principles — resolving issues through conflict mediation rather than falling prey to the carter logic and social violence that fuels the legal system. “But Melina Abdullah and BLMGR ignored or refused our offers. Instead, they would rather follow in the footsteps of our white oppressors and use the criminal legal system supported by white supremacy (the same system they say they want to dissolve ) to resolve kinematic disputes. “Specifically, Melina Abdullah and BLMGR’s narrative regarding the current BLMGNF Board of Directors is harmful, divisive and false. It only feeds the right-wing media’s clear agenda to sow distrust and division among blacks and is deeply at odds with the abolition of values ​​and the struggle for Black liberation. “Therefore, BLMGNF is forced to publicly respond to Melina and BLMGR’s attacks against BLMGNF and its current leadership. So we will respond, with love, facts and the spirit of transparency that we have been focusing on for the past six months, as noted by release of IRS Form 990 and BLM Transparency Center.”