Political | Process

The state of Washington told Black Lives Matter in early January that it must “immediately cease” fundraising in the state due to the lack of financial transparency.

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• The Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division notified BLM in a Jan. 5 letter that it could face fines up to $2,000 for each donation it solicits and receives from Washington residents until it submits records detailing its financial activities.

• Despite the notice, BLM has continued to accept contributions from the state’s residents as recently as Monday evening.

• “Please note that a violation of the Act is also a violation of the consumer Protection Act … and could result in the imposition of injunctions and civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation,” the Washington notice to BLM said.

“Any organization that solicits and/or collects contributions in violation of the Act and CPA will be reported to the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for further action.”

• A Washington resident confirmed to the Washington Examiner on Monday evening that he was able to donate $1 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the legal entity that represents the national BLM movement.

• BLM processed the resident’s donation Monday evening despite the fact that the person provided his Washington address when he submitted the donation using BLM’s online donation button.

• Patrick Reed, a public and government affairs manager for the Corporations and Charities Division, told the Washington Examiner that charities like BLM that are involuntarily closed by the state could face substantial fines for soliciting online donations from Washington residents.

SOURCE: WASINGTONEXAMINER