Black Lives Matter PAC
Black Lives Matter PAC is a left-of-center political action committee affiliated with the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the primary organization associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. It was announced in late 2020.
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Background and Activities
Black Lives Matter PAC was publicly announced on October 9, 2020.1 Its stated purpose is to help “elect progressive community leaders, activists, and working-class candidates fighting for Black liberation.”2 Patrisse Cullors, the former executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, explained to Politico that Black Lives Matter PAC was created because “[w]e want to be able to not just speak in ‘get out the vote’ language.”3
A 2020 Impact Report released by the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation explained that Black Lives Matter PAC was created in order “to support the candidates who align with the movement’s foundation.” It further stated that “[t]he people crave a radical, Black-led movement within our body of elected officials.”1
During the 2020 United States general election, Black Lives Matter PAC partnered with the left-wing Working Families Party to contact 5.4 million voters in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.4
According to the 2020 Impact Report, 44 candidates and measures endorsed by Black Lives Matter PAC during the 2020 United States general election were successful, and the organization specifically singled out U.S. Representatives Cori Bush (D-MO), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Nikema Williams (D-GA) “for winning on a platform that invested in Black lives.”5 Black Lives Matter PAC also participated in the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections “to ensure both Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were victorious.”4
Finances
Black Lives Matter PAC utilizes the fundraising services of ActBlue to process donations on its website.6
From October 9, 2020 through December 31, 2020, Black Lives Matter PAC raised $1.05 million. It spent $746,000 during the 2020 U.S. general election and the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff elections.7
In February 2024, the Daily Caller reported that most of Black Lives Matter PAC’s expenditures in 2023 were paid to Bowers Consulting Firm, a company owned by the PAC’s treasurer Shalomyah Bowers. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Black Lives Matter PAC spent $146,679 in 2023, yet it reported spending nothing on federal election activities or on independent expenditures to support or oppose candidates for office. It paid $90,000 to Bowers Consulting Firm that year. Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, called Black Lives Matter PAC “nothing more than a scam PAC,” while a lobbyist with Public Citizen said that “such expenses raise serious ethical concerns” even if they are generally legal.8
Associated Influence Networks
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a movement ostensibly seeking to reform police conduct especially as it involves use of force against African-American suspects and civilians.