“What can take the movement out is not the assaults from the outside, but the attacks from the inside.” –Hank Jones of the Black Panther Party’s “San Francisco 8”

More than ten years ago, I was one of about thirty folks…including a dozen or so of my Pan-African Studies students and my three children, who stood under the light of the moon and pledged to build “a movement, not a moment,” birthing #BlackLivesMatter and nurturing what would become the largest racial justice movement in history. We had not a dollar or a social media follower.

We clung to our Creator, our faith, and audacious vision – heeding our sacred duty to honor the struggle of our Ancestors, bring justice in the names of those stolen by police and white-supremacist violence, and build a world fit for future generations. We have won tremendous victories: prosecuting killer cops, demanding a “People’s Budget,” winning ethnic studies requirements, investing in Black students, blocking a terrible mayor from a presidential cabinet post, building Black cooperative economics, shifting language and narrative, and mobilizing millions around justice work.

We understand that our own offerings pale in comparison to that of our forebears and to the unimaginable pain that the families of those stolen must turn into purpose. Movement veterans remind us that it is a choice to step into this work. We seek neither reward nor sympathy.

In 2020, as support in people and dollars poured in, responding to the theft of #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, and #GeorgeFloyd, righteous organizers who had been building #BlackLivesMatter for the past seven years saw it as a moment where “the world cracked wide open.” It was a brief window of opportunity to build towards our radically reimagined world. Black Lives Matter chapters across the country aligned under the banner of Black Lives Matter Grassroots. Our eyes were on the proverbial prize, our intentions were pure, and our justice work was effective.

As we were building towards freedom, others were building their own fortunes. In particular, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (GNF) was the legal entity receiving the bulk of the donations. Most on-the-ground organizers were too busy doing frontline work to be sidelined by what was largely seen as administrative functions (although there were a few who warned us). At the same time, Patrisse Cullors, the BLM co-founder who initially ran GNF became overwhelmed by violent threats and constant attacks. Ultimately, Patrisse stepped back, writing a transition plan that designated the movement’s resources to BLM Grassroots while also granting what was understood to be temporary legal authority to Christman “Shalomyah” Bowers, a highly-paid, inexperienced political consultant. Bowers had no background in community organizing, at least two lawsuits against him, and questionable trustworthiness. Bowers would later flank himself with two additional GNF board members: Cicley Gay and D’zhane Parker. Gay is a consultant from Atlanta, who has personally filed bankruptcy at least three times and is now primarily responsible for the foundation’s finances once estimated at $100 million. And Parker, an obscure Instagram model, is reportedly to be Bowers’ best friend from high school

As controversies and allegations against Black Lives Matter mounted, each stemmed from decisions made by GNF. It was GNF that secretly purchased and lied about a six-million-dollar mansion in Studio City, not to be used for the movement, but as a residence. In fact, Alicia Garza (a BLM cofounder) and I were lured into the house to film a conversation under the pretext that it was owned by a white benefactor. When exposed, GNF said it was a “Creator’s House” for Black artists. It was GNF that, that paid themselves millions of dollars in consulting contracts each year. It was GNF that hijacked social media and email platforms to advance messaging that sounds like talking points for the Democratic party.

In March 2022, through personal communication, Bowers revealed his plan to “keep Black Lives Matter indefinitely.” BLM Grassroots organizers implored him to return the resources, platforms, and good name of Black Lives Matter. When we were unable to appeal to his better angels, we sent a letter signed by 70 of the most well-known Black organizers in the country. That was followed by an open letter signed by 2500 supporters. Yet, Bowers, Gay and Parker had no conscience and they instead used funds and platforms to launch an attack against on-the-ground organizers, and me in particular. 

BLM Grassroots was forced to file a lawsuit against GNF in September 2022. We argued that GNF and Bowers had committed fraud, stealing the movement’s resources from the people who birthed, built, and fuel it. Rather than denying our claims, GNF used legal maneuvering to argue its First Amendment right to retain our resources and that BLM Grassroots had no legal standing. Following three court proceedings, with courtrooms overflowing with justice families, clergy, organizers, and allies, and months of delay, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick, a Republican appointee, sided with GNF.

Last week it became clear that Bowers, Gay, and Parker (and whoever else is in on the grand scheme) seeks not only to steal the movement, but to kill it. Even as they continue to hold nearly $80 million in assets according to their most recent tax filing, GNF is now suing Black Lives Matter Grassroots for more than half-a-million dollars in legal fees. Bowers, who pocketed at least $1.7 million from GNF last year and $2.2 million the year before, is threatening to sue Grassroots for another half million. This, as they dangle checks in front of previous movement allies, buying off everyone who will sell their souls, and threatening to sue those who won’t (including members of the Black press).

So, if GNF essentially won the resources and platforms, why do they want to “murder” Black Lives Matter? They want to kill us because (perhaps among other reasons) we are devout abolitionists and they receive significant individual reward from the system of white-supremacist-patriarchal-heterosexist-capitalism that we seek to destroy. They want to kill us because we are a movement driven by people who are unbought and unbossed. They want to kill us because if they don’t, we will continue to grow and win victories.

Even with modest funding, low social media following, and their misrepresentation of who we are which causes significant harm to our reputation, we continue to fight. In the year since our lawsuit filing, we have won historic prosecutions against the Louisiana State troopers who beat #RonaldGreene to death; the cops who killed #RyanTwyman and #ChristopherDeandreMitchell now stand trial in a Los Angeles criminal court; the family of #AndrewJosephIII won the largest jury award for a police killing in Florida state history; we are community endorsers of the Ending Qualified Immunity Act, introduced by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley; we have grown to 33 chapters worldwide, and we recently celebrated 10 years of doing righteous work.

Many have attempted to murder Black Lives Matter: police, white-supremacists, politicians…but those who weaseled their way inside have the clearest shot. As they take aim, they underestimate us. “We will shoot back,” as goes the self-defense mantra of Civil Rights leader Robert F. Williams. Our work is righteous. Our God is real. The people are with us. 

This movement is driven by not just the known names and faces of frontline organizers, but by the brilliance and labor of a multitude too large to count. In this moment we continue to go to the people to sustain the movement, to advance Black Lives Matter Grassroots and the important work of Black liberation. Even if there are casualties, we are many, and we will win. Black lives still matter.