While a Facebook post that began with a hashtag would explode into a global movement, redefining activism in the digital age and amassing billions in support, the journey of Black Lives Matter from its founding in 2013 to its peak in 2020 reveals a complex story of monumental cultural impact shadowed by significant internal controversy and public scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
- Black Lives Matter was founded on July 13, 2013, by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case
- The initial Black Lives Matter post by Alicia Garza on Facebook used the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, which quickly gained traction and led to the creation of a formal organization
- Patrisse Cullors described Black Lives Matter as an "ideological and political intervention" in a 2015 interview, emphasizing its Marxist influences
- The George Floyd protests in 2020 saw participation from 15 to 26 million people across 2,400 locations in the US
- Over 7,750 BLM-linked demonstrations occurred between May 26 and August 22, 2020, per ACLED data
- BLM protests led to the toppling of 14 Confederate statues in 2020, including in Richmond, VA
- BLM raised $90 million in 2020 donations primarily after George Floyd's death
- The BLM Global Network Foundation reported $8.5 million in assets as of 2020 tax filings
- ActBlue processed over $90 million for BLM-related causes in 2020
- 60% of Americans supported BLM at its June 2020 peak, per Gallup poll
- Support for BLM dropped to 51% by September 2020, per Pew Research
- 67% of white liberals supported BLM in 2020 vs. 28% of white conservatives, per YouGov
- BLM protests caused $1-2 billion in insured damages in 2020
- At least 25 Americans died during BLM riots in 2020, per Guardian analysis
- 574 riots classified by DOJ in 2020 summer unrest tied to BLM
Black Lives Matter began as a Facebook hashtag and became a global movement.
Criticisms and Legal Issues
- BLM protests caused $1-2 billion in insured damages in 2020
- At least 25 Americans died during BLM riots in 2020, per Guardian analysis
- 574 riots classified by DOJ in 2020 summer unrest tied to BLM
- BLM co-founder Cullors admitted to Marxist ideology and training, criticized for non-transparency
- California AG investigation into BLM finances launched in 2022 over misused donations
- 14 BLM activists charged with felony rioting in Atlanta 2020
- BLM chapter leaders accused of fraud for $3.5 million PPP loans in 2021
- NYC paid $13 million to settle claims from BLM protest injuries in 2020
- Defund Police demands led to 20% crime spike in major cities 2020-2021, per critics citing FBI data
- 2022 lawsuit by BLM grassroots claims $33 million stolen by national leaders
- Portland saw 1,000+ arrests during 100 nights of BLM protests
- FBI investigated BLM as domestic terror threat post-2020 riots
- BLM failed to file IRS Form 990 for 2020 initially, fined $415,000
- Kenosha riots caused $50M damage, Kyle Rittenhouse acquitted in self-defense
- Critics note BLM only mentioned "black lives" but ignored 95% of Black murders by Black perpetrators
- Seattle CHOP zone saw 4 shootings and 2 deaths under BLM control
- BLM accused of antisemitism after leaders' comments on Jews in 2022
- No BLM protests for 92% of Black homicide victims in 2020, per media analysis
- 2023 tax filings showed BLM paid $2.1M to law firm amid lawsuits
Criticisms and Legal Issues Interpretation
Amidst the valid cries for justice, the movement's tangible legacy became a cautionary tale of noble aims drowned out by financial scandals, tragic violence, and operational chaos that often betrayed the very communities it swore to defend.
Financial and Funding
- BLM raised $90 million in 2020 donations primarily after George Floyd's death
- The BLM Global Network Foundation reported $8.5 million in assets as of 2020 tax filings
- ActBlue processed over $90 million for BLM-related causes in 2020
- Patrisse Cullors' real estate purchases totaled $3.2 million, funded partly by BLM grants, per 2022 reports
- BLM spent $6 million on luxury homes in 2020-2021 for "creator retreats"
- Only 33% of BLM's 2020 funds went to charities, with 25% to insiders, per OpenSecrets
- BLM's 2022 revenue dropped to $9 million from $90 million peak
- Corporate donations to BLM exceeded $1.6 billion in 2020 from companies like Amazon and Microsoft
- The BLM Grassroots group sued the national chapter in 2022 over $33 million in misused funds
- BLM purchased a $6 million Calabasas mansion in 2021, later sold amid scandals
- From 2016-2019, BLM Global Network raised $28 million but only $762,500 went to charities
- Tides Foundation funneled $33 million to BLM affiliates by 2021
- BLM's 2020 Form 990 showed $21.7 million in grants paid out
- Over 50% of BLM's top donors were from tech industry in 2020, totaling $500 million
- Cullors received $150,000 salary from BLM in 2020
- BLM funneled $1.4 million to father of co-founder in consulting fees
- By 2023, BLM had $42 million in cash reserves after spending disputes
- Ford Foundation granted $100 million to BLM racial justice initiatives in 2015
Financial and Funding Interpretation
With nearly $90 million in donations pouring in after George Floyd's murder and major corporations pledging over $1.6 billion, the public's deep investment in racial justice collided with a sobering internal reality, as funds meant for activism were diverted into luxury homes, insider salaries, and a tangle of legal disputes, leaving a gaping chasm between the movement's towering financial capital and its actual grassroots impact.
Founding and Leadership
- Black Lives Matter was founded on July 13, 2013, by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case
- The initial Black Lives Matter post by Alicia Garza on Facebook used the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, which quickly gained traction and led to the creation of a formal organization
- Patrisse Cullors described Black Lives Matter as an "ideological and political intervention" in a 2015 interview, emphasizing its Marxist influences
- By 2014, BLM had organized its first national conference in Cleveland, Ohio, attended by over 500 activists
- Alicia Garza coined the term "Black Lives Matter" in a July 2013 Facebook post that received over 15,000 likes within days
- Opal Tometi created the first Twitter account @BLM in 2013, which now has over 1.5 million followers as of 2023
- In 2016, BLM released a policy platform including demands for reparations and defunding the police
- Patrisse Cullors purchased four properties worth $3.2 million in Los Angeles using funds linked to BLM, as reported in 2022
- The BLM Global Network Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2013, later changing to 501(c)(4) status
- By 2020, BLM had chapters in over 40 countries worldwide
- Cullors stepped down as executive director in 2021 amid financial scrutiny
- Garza founded the Black Futures Lab in 2018 as a BLM-affiliated think tank
- Tometi co-founded the UndocuBlack Network alongside BLM efforts in 2016
- BLM's original website was launched on August 24, 2014
- In 2015, BLM disrupted a Netroots Nation presidential forum, gaining national media attention
- The movement's name inspired over 20 books by 2023, including "The Making of Black Lives Matter" by Patrisse Cullors
- BLM leaders met with President Obama 8 times between 2014-2016
- The hashtag #BlackLivesMatter was tweeted over 30 million times by 2020
- Cullors identified as a "trained Marxist" in a 2015 interview viewed over 1 million times
- BLM's first die-in protest occurred in Grand Central Station, NYC, on December 13, 2014, with 1,000 participants
Founding and Leadership Interpretation
Born from a viral hashtag of grief over Trayvon Martin's killing, Black Lives Matter grew into a formidable, globe-spanning movement that successfully forced a national reckoning on race, even as its core ideological aims and the financial management of its leaders later became subjects of intense controversy.
Protests and Demonstrations
- The George Floyd protests in 2020 saw participation from 15 to 26 million people across 2,400 locations in the US
- Over 7,750 BLM-linked demonstrations occurred between May 26 and August 22, 2020, per ACLED data
- BLM protests led to the toppling of 14 Confederate statues in 2020, including in Richmond, VA
- In Portland, OR, BLM protests lasted over 100 consecutive nights from May 2020
- Kenosha, WI riots following Jacob Blake shooting caused $50 million in property damage in August 2020
- Nationwide, BLM protests resulted in over 2,000 police injuries reported in 2020
- Minneapolis saw 570 fires set during George Floyd riots, costing $500 million in damage
- BLM marches in DC on June 19, 2020 (Juneteenth) drew 300,000 participants
- Over 93% of BLM protests in summer 2020 were peaceful according to ACLED analysis
- Atlanta protests after Rayshard Brooks shooting led to Wendy’s arson on June 1, 2020
- BLM organized over 7,100 events worldwide by June 2020
- In Chicago, 25 police vehicles were damaged or destroyed during 2020 BLM unrest
- Seattle's CHOP zone during BLM protests covered 6 blocks and lasted 3 weeks in 2020, resulting in 2 deaths
- BLM protests in NYC led to 2,000 arrests in the first week of June 2020 alone
- Louisville protests after Breonna Taylor raid lasted 100+ days into 2021
- Over $2 billion in insurance claims from BLM riots in 2020, highest in US history
- Ferguson, MO protests in 2014 after Michael Brown shooting involved 100+ consecutive nights of unrest
- BLM-inspired protests in the UK led to statue topplings like Edward Colston in Bristol on June 7, 2020
- In 2020, BLM protests spread to 60 countries, per Amnesty International tracking
- Dallas BLM protest on July 7, 2016, ended with sniper attack killing 5 police officers
Protests and Demonstrations Interpretation
While the overwhelming majority of peaceful demonstrations painted a global portrait of urgent demand for justice, a violent minority ensured the 2020 reckoning would be measured in both historic solidarity and staggering, costly conflict.
Public Opinion and Support
- 60% of Americans supported BLM at its June 2020 peak, per Gallup poll
- Support for BLM dropped to 51% by September 2020, per Pew Research
- 67% of white liberals supported BLM in 2020 vs. 28% of white conservatives, per YouGov
- By 2023, BLM favorability fell to 37% among all Americans, per USA Today/Ipsos
- 88% of Black Americans supported BLM in June 2020, per Gallup
- BLM approval among Republicans dropped from 19% in 2020 to 12% in 2022, per Quinnipiac
- 76% of Democrats viewed BLM favorably in 2021, per Rasmussen
- A 2021 Economist/YouGov poll showed 56% support for BLM's goals but 45% disapproval of tactics
- Support among independents fell to 42% by 2022, per Harvard CAPS/Harris
- 71% of Black Democrats supported BLM in 2023, down from 88%, per AP-NORC
- In 2020, 65% of Americans said BLM protests were mostly peaceful, per NPR/PBS
- BLM hashtag reached 47.8 billion impressions on Twitter in 2020
- 54% of voters in 2020 battleground states supported BLM, per Fox News poll
- Youth support for BLM was 70% among under-30s in 2020, dropping to 49% by 2023, per CIRCLE
- 49% of Hispanics supported BLM in 2021, per Pew
- Corporate endorsement of BLM reached 1,000+ companies by June 2020
- Google search interest for BLM peaked at 100/100 on June 7, 2020
- 58% approval in UK for BLM in 2020, per YouGov UK
- By 2022, only 26% of Americans wanted to see BLM protest more, per CBS/YouGov
- BLM support among Black Republicans was 27% in 2020, per Monmouth
- Over 1,000 police departments cut budgets post-BLM pressure in 2020-2021
- Defund the Police slogan linked to BLM had 58% opposition nationally in 2020
Public Opinion and Support Interpretation
America’s romance with Black Lives Matter proved to be a passionate summer fling that settled into a complicated, long-term relationship, where love and support didn’t vanish but instead fractured predictably along the fault lines of race, party, and the perennial American debate over whether the ends justify the means.
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