Amazon suspends Black Lives Matter from charity platform in controversy around missing $60 million

Amazon has temporarily suspended ‘Black Lives Matter’ from AmazonSmile after the social justice organisation failed to disclose where $60 million in donations has gone.

The foundation said it ended 2020 with a balance of more than 60 million dollars (£42 million), after spending nearly a quarter of its assets on operating expenses, grants to black-led organisations and other charitable giving.

AmazonSmile has removed the national arm of the BLM movement, BLMGNF, from its thousands of approved charities.

The charity platform donates 0.5 percent from purchases to designated nonprofits.

An Amazon spokesman told Fox News Digital: “We offer the AmazonSmile program to make it easy for our customers to support their favourite charitable organisations, and we work to offer a broad spectrum of organisations, including those working to end racial injustice.”

“States have rules for nonprofits, and organisations participating in AmazonSmile need to meet those rules. Unfortunately, this organisation fell out of compliance with the rules in several states, so we’ve had to temporarily suspend them from the program until they come into compliance.

“We hope that happens soon, and in the meantime, customers who have already selected them in AmazonSmile are able to continue supporting them, and we’ll hold any funds accrued until they’re back in compliance.”

The suspension of BLM from AmazonSmile was first reported by the Washington Examiner.

Although many groups use “Black Lives Matter” or “BLM” in their names, less than a dozen are considered affiliates of the chapter network.

The co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Cullors, stepped down as executive director of the movement’s foundation in May 2021.

Patrisse Cullors has weighed in on the missing donations, saying the 60 million dollars came from "white corporation guilt."

She said "People have to know we didn't go out and solicit the money. This is money that came from white guilt, white corporation guilt, and they just poured money in."