Amazon affiliate program, AmazonSmile, has removed Black Lives Matter from their list of charities after the organization was accused of fiscal impropriety by several states.
QUICK FACTS:
- Black Lives Matter was removed from AmazonSmile on Tuesday, according to The Washington Examiner.
- The organization cited scrutiny for BLM from several states that wish to investigate their massive 2020 financial gains.
- AmazonSmile’s decision cuts BLM off from a funding source that provided charities with $306 million to U.S. charities in 2021.
- It’s estimated that Amazon alone donated $10 million to BLM and 11 other similar social justice groups in the wake of unrest spurred by George Floyd’s killing, though an Amazon spokesperson declined to say exactly how much was donated to BLM.
AMAZON’S STATEMENT ABOUT THE CHANGE:
- “Charitable organizations must meet the requirements outlined in our participation agreement to be eligible for AmazonSmile,” an Amazon representative told the Washington Examiner.
- “Among other eligibility requirements, organizations are required to be in good standing in their state of incorporation and in the states and territories where they are authorized to do business.
- “Organizations that don’t meet the requirements listed in the agreement may have its eligibility suspended or revoked. Charities can request to be reinstated once they are back in good standing.”
BACKGROUND:
- BLM has been under the microscope in recent months, partially due to news that the group’s co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, claimed that the unaccounted millions her group received in 2020 came from “white corporation guilt,” according to The Washington Examiner.
- “People have to know we didn’t go out and solicit the money,” Cullors said. “This is money that came from white guilt, white corporation guilt, and they just poured money in,” as Breitbart News reported.
