Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Missouri officer in August 2014. After his death there were weeks of protest and demostrations in the streets demanding justice for Michael but overall change in the U.S. The activity on the ground in Ferguson helped bring national attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Now Michael Brown Sr., the father of Michael is demanding financial support from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation after the organization released last month they received over $90 million in donations in 2020.

“Where is all that money going?” Brown Sr. asked during a press release last week. Brown is working together with the IBFA to request $20 million from the organization.

“Who are they giving it to and what are they doing with it?” Brown asked. In a video filmed on Feb 26, 2021 three days after The Associated Press that Black Lives Matter raised $90 million dollars which majority came after the tragic death of George Floyd. Ferguson organizer Tory Russell and IBFA representative were beside Brown Sr. accusing the organization of turning their backs on activists who have “given their lives to the struggle” against racism and police brutality.

“Today, we hold Black Lives Matter accountable,” Russell said. “The movement that has catapulted into the limelight has forgotten about Ferguson and the freedom fighters.”

Russell says the people who’ve sacrificed their lives for the movement are rarely mentioned and their families aren’t taken care of. Along with  “political prisoners” from the Ferguson movement who’re still behind bars haven’t received assistance from the organization.

“What kind of movement are we building where we’re saying ‘Black lives matter’ but the freedom fighters and the families are being left behind?” Russell asked. Then demanded Black Lives Matter provide $20 million to fund local Ferguson organizations. “We’re coming for what we deserve,” he said.

The Black Lives Matter foundation ended 2020 with a balance of $60 million after spending about quarter of its assets on grants and charitable giving.

The organization  has committed $21.7 million in funding for official and unofficial chapters of Black Lives Matter. Thirty Black-led local organizations, 23 of which are led by Black LGBTQ people, have each received a six-figure grant from the foundation. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors told the AP, “One of our biggest goals this year is taking the dollars we were able to raise in 2020 and building out the institution we’ve been trying to build for the last seven and a half years.” Last year’s individual donations averaged $30 and 10 percent were recurring. Expenses for the organization in 2020 totaled about $8.4 million. Russell and Brown said the $20 million they are requesting from the organization will go towards “annual commemoration around Mike Brown Jr.’s life, mutual aid programs” and “Black Panther-style programs and services to meet the needs of the people.”

Russell added, “This is what we started in Ferguson and this is what we will continue.”

Brown Sr. did not speak during the video.

Read more:

Texas Police Release Video of Cop Fatally Shooting Black Man