Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors is stepping down from her role as executive director of the activist group’s central foundation.
Cullors, who has led the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation for more than five years, told the Associated Press on Thursday that she was leaving the position to focus on other projects, including the release of her second book and a television deal. Cullors’ finances drew attention in April after the New York Post reported she had purchased four homes for $3.2 million. The report prompted Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, to call for an “independent investigation” into the foundation’s finances. The two organizations are not affiliated. Cullors stated that the reason for her departure was unrelated to the scrutiny over her finances.
The activist said she had created “the necessary bones and foundation” at the organization and felt the “time is right” to leave. She asserted that her exit was planned for more than a year and was unrelated to scrutiny regarding her personal finances. “Those were right-wing attacks that tried to discredit my character, and I don’t operate off of what the right thinks of me,” Cullors said.