Ray Barnes, the foundation’s president and CEO, told CNN Monday night that he never solicited donations in New York.
“I have never been to New York on the Black Lives Matter Foundation issue. We have never requested funds from New York. Now, donations have come through charities. We may have been sent funds from which the donor It could have been New York, but it’s not because we asked New York, “Barnes said.
“The funds come to us and may be from people in New York. I don’t know. But we have never applied for funds from New York,” Barnes continued.
In his order, James cited the organization’s failure to register and file the appropriate financial documents as the reasons for his action.
“Any organization seeking to solicit donations from New Yorkers must follow state law,” James said in a press release.
“We will also fight for transparency so that opportunists do not take advantage of donor goodwill. The Black Lives Matter Foundation did not record or file any financial documents with the state, and therefore did not provide New Yorkers with information on how donations will be used. That is why we are taking action by requiring the foundation to stop soliciting contributions from New Yorkers. I encourage all donors to exercise due diligence when donating to charities. ”
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