Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors stepping down
Patrisse Cullors, one of three women who founded the Black Lives Matter global network, is stepping down as the executive director of the group’s foundation.
While there are many Black Lives Matter groups, the Global Network Foundation is the possibly the largest in the movement, and the organization received $90 million in donations last year.
Cullors, 37, founded the group alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin. The three women wanted to create a decentralized activist movement, and expanded to a network in 2015.
“I’ve created the infrastructure and the support, and the necessary bones and foundation, so that I can leave,” Cullors told the Associated Press. “It feels like the time is right.”
Garza and Tometi have not been involved in BLM’s day-to-day operations for multiple years, but Cullors remained as executive director.
She said her departure, which is effective Friday, was in the works for a year and was not influenced by recent smear campaigns against the group.
“I would like her to be there forever, but I also know that that’s not feasible,” BLM organizer Melina Abdullah told the AP. “The real test of any organization is can it survive the departure of its founders. And I have no question that Black Lives Matter will survive and grow and evolve, even with the departure of our final co-founder in a formal role.”
Longtime Black Lives Matter activists Makani Themba and Monifa Bandele will step into senior executive roles, the group said in a press release.
Cullors’ second book, “An Abolitionist’s Handbook,” will be released in October, and she is also developing multiple television projects with backing from Warner Bros., the AP reported. Her first TV show is expected to debut in July.
