On Tuesday, Amazon booted Black Lives Matter off its charity platform AmazonSmile
The move comes less than two years after Amazon donated $10 million to Black Lives Matter.
The organization has been facing intense scrutiny from multiple states over the status of its financial windfall from 2020. BLM’s shocking lack of transparency surrounding its finances and operations raises major legal and ethical red flags, multiple charity experts told the Washington Examiner.
The move deprives BLM of a major revenue source that has provided $306 million to U.S. charities and comes less than two years after Amazon itself donated $10 million to BLM and 11 other social justice groups amid the nationwide unrest spurred by George Floyd’s killing.
“Charitable organizations must meet the requirements outlined in our participation agreement to be eligible for AmazonSmile,” an Amazon spokesperson told the 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 [their] eligibility suspended or revoked.”
Amazon affirmed that BLM has the chance to be reinstated once it is in good standing.
Charities on the platform saw a total of $306 million in donations, but Amazon’s decision means that none of this will be going to Black Lives Matter until the group can be more transparent. The racial justice group remains on many other crowdfunding and donation websites.
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