BLM-Affiliated Group Asks White Americans For Reparations As Support And Finances Collapse

A nonprofit affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement is calling on “white folks” to pay reparations directly to black individuals and organizations, even as its own financial standing deteriorates and national support for its cause continues to decline.

In a press release issued Thursday to commemorate Juneteenth, Black Lives Matter Grassroots — a group that split from the broader Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation — urged white Americans to take personal financial responsibility for what it described as centuries of “stolen labor.” The release asked white allies to “slide your Black friend some benjamins” and to make direct donations to groups like BLM Grassroots.

“Commit yourselves to real reparations policies that hold accountable the government, white-supremacist capitalism, and white people — who continue to benefit from our generations of stolen labor,” the statement read. It also called on non-black people of color to “confront and smash the anti-blackness in your own communities.”

The demand comes amid waning public enthusiasm for the Black Lives Matter movement and growing scrutiny over its financial practices. A May 2025 Pew Research Center poll found that a majority of Americans now believe BLM has brought no meaningful improvement to the lives of black Americans. That poll follows an April decision by Washington, D.C. officials to remove “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” a formerly touted “permanent” landmark.

While calling for donations and reparations, BLM Grassroots is facing its own dire financial situation. According to tax filings from 2023, the organization began the year with nearly $4 million in assets, but ended with just over $2.6 million. It reportedly brought in a mere $77,084 in revenue while racking up over $1.4 million in expenses — a dramatic mismatch that some critics say reflects the group’s waning influence and mismanagement.

The group has also been embroiled in infighting and legal disputes. In 2022, it sued the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, accusing it of misappropriating $10 million in funds. The case was dismissed by a judge, who ordered BLM Grassroots to pay the foundation’s legal fees.

Adding to the controversy, BLM Grassroots Director Melina Abdullah has been accused of using nonprofit funds to pay for a personal vacation to Jamaica. Investigations launched by watchdog groups and news outlets, including The Washington Free Beacon, have raised questions about millions of dollars in unaccounted spending.

While the press release claimed to speak for “our people,” polling shows the movement no longer resonates with much of the country. According to Pew, even among black Americans, support for BLM’s tactics and messaging has softened in recent years.

Still, the group insisted that Americans “make our struggles your own” and called on supporters to work toward “defeating our common enemy — white-supremacist capitalism.”

Critics note that the group’s demands are being made even as many claims originally labeled as ‘misinformation’ or conspiracy theories about BLM finances have since been vindicated, further eroding trust in the organization.

With donations drying up, influence fading, and internal conflict unresolved, BLM Grassroots’ Juneteenth call for reparations may reflect more than a political demand — it may be a desperate attempt to stay financially afloat in a movement rapidly losing public confidence.

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