Black Lives Matter in PPS

At AntiWokeSchools.com, we oppose the display of Black Lives Matter (BLM) flags in Portland Public Schools (PPS) classrooms and the promotion of BLM narratives in curricula. PPS policy selectively permits BLM posters as "district-approved symbols of inclusion for marginalized students," while restricting other "personal or political" displays. This one-sided approach pushes racial grievance ideology, ignoring evidence that BLM has been marred by financial scandals, that its protests caused more deaths than the police killings they decry, and that intra-racial violence far outpaces police-involved incidents. Promoting BLM in schools risks indoctrinating students with divisive, unsubstantiated claims of systemic racism in policing, diverting focus from real community issues like black-on-black crime. Below, we detail the facts with sources from government data, peer-reviewed studies, and investigative reports. We've included perspectives from both sides, but the data speaks for itself: BLM's narrative often prioritizes activism over evidence.

1. BLM as a Financial Grift: Millions Misused and Stolen

BLM's national organization, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), raised over $90 million in 2020 amid George Floyd protests, but much of it went to insiders, luxury purchases, and unrelated expenses rather than community aid. Critics, including local BLM chapters, have called it a "grift" due to lack of transparency and self-enrichment. Only about 33% of funds went to charities, with the rest fueling deficits, executive payouts, and questionable deals.

Key Fact: BLMGNF spent $6 million on a Los Angeles mansion (7 bedrooms, pool) using donor funds, which leaders like co-founder Patrisse Cullors used for personal videos and events. Another $2.1 million went to board member Shalomyah Bowers' consulting firm, and $1.6 million to Cullors' brother's security company. The group ended 2022 with a $9 million deficit amid bankruptcy risks.
Ongoing Probes: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a 2025 investigation into whether BLM leaders defrauded donors of $90 million+, issuing subpoenas and a search warrant. Separately, an Oklahoma BLM leader was indicted in 2025 for embezzling $3.15 million in bail funds.
Local Scandals: BLM Atlanta's leader was sentenced to 42 months in prison in 2024 for laundering $450,000 in "George Floyd" donations on suits, prostitutes, and a mansion.
Counterview: BLM denies fraud, claiming expenses were for operations and grants (e.g., $21.7 million to 30+ groups in 2020). But tax filings show $37 million in grants/real estate/flights, with $32 million in stocks and minimal direct aid.
Sources:
- DOJ Investigation (AP, 2025): Details $90M probe into misuse.
- Tax Filings Analysis (WPDE, 2023): 33% to charities, millions to insiders.
- Mansion Exposé (New York Magazine, 2022): $6M property purchase.
- Atlanta Fraud Sentencing (Free Press, 2024): $450K embezzlement.
- CharityWatch Report (2025): Bowers' firm got $2.2M+.

2. Protest Deaths vs. Police Killings of Unarmed Black Men

BLM protests in 2020, often violent, led to 19-25 deaths—more than the annual average of unarmed black men killed by police (10-20). This highlights hypocrisy: BLM decries police violence but ignores riot-related fatalities, including those of bystanders and officers.

Key Fact: At least 19 people died during 2020 unrest (May-June), per Forbes and ACLED data, including 11 BLM protesters and others in riots. Estimates reach 25 total, with $1-2 billion in damages—the costliest civil disorder in U.S. history.
Unarmed Black Men Killed by Police: Washington Post data shows 10-15 annually (e.g., 12 in 2019, 11 in 2020). Over 2015-2024, unarmed black victims averaged ~15/year, vs. ~20 unarmed whites.
Context: Only 5% of protests involved violence, but those caused most deaths. BLM's focus on rare police killings (e.g., 1,000 total/year, ~54 unarmed) overshadows protest harms.
Sources:
- Protest Deaths (Guardian, 2020): 25 total, 11 at protests.
- Riot Damages (Wikipedia/ACLED): 19 deaths, $1-2B losses.
- Unarmed Police Killings (WaPo, 2015-2024): ~15 black/year.
- Annual Trends (Statista, 2025): 1,164 total in 2023, black rate 6.1/million.

3. The Real Issue: Black-on-Black Homicide and Intra-Racial Violence

BLM emphasizes police killings (rare, ~250 black victims/year), but ignores that 89% of black homicide victims are killed by other black people—thousands annually. This stems from concentrated urban poverty, not systemic police racism.

Key Fact: FBI data shows ~89% of black victims killed by black offenders (2019: 2,574/2,906). Blacks commit ~50% of murders despite being 13% of population, per UCR.
Homicide Rates: Black homicide victimization is 4x overall rate (26.6/100,000 vs. 7.1). Over 1980-2020, black arrests for homicide fell 65%, but blacks remain 6x more likely than whites.
Sources:
- FBI Expanded Homicide (2019): 89% black-on-black.
- VPC Report (2023): 4x victimization rate.
- CCJ Trends (2020-2021): Black males 8x victimization.

4. Police Killings by Race: Adjusted for Crime, No Anti-Black Bias

Unarmed black killings by police are similar to whites when adjusted for violent crime rates (blacks commit ~50% murders, large violent crimes portion). Raw data shows disparities (blacks 2.5x rate), but studies adjusting for encounters/crime find no bias—or reverse.

Key Fact: WaPo: Blacks 27% of killings (13% population), but adjusted for violent arrests/weapons offenses, blacks less likely shot. One study: Unarmed whites > blacks killed 2016-2022.
Adjusted Studies: No systematic anti-black bias; disparities from higher violent crime exposure.
Sources:
- WaPo Database (2015-2024): Blacks 2.5x raw rate.
- City Journal Analysis (2024): More unarmed whites killed.
- Journal of Criminal Justice (2019): No bias post-crime adjustment.
- RAND Review (2024): Challenges in bias studies, but crime key.

5. Trends: Black Police Killings Declining, White Stagnant

Black police killings have decreased (~20% drop 2015-2024), while white killings remain steady (~500/year). Overall killings ~1,000/year, no major uptick.

Key Fact: MPV: Black rate fell from 97/million (2013-2021) to lower recent; WaPo: Black share up slightly 2020-2021 but stabilized.
Sources:
- MPV Trends (2013-2026): Black decline.
- WaPo (2022): Black killings rose post-2020 but overall trend down.
- BJS Trends (1976-2005): Black rates 6x white, declining.