KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The Santa Clarita-based “Black Lives Matter Foundation” is unaffiliated with the national Black Lives Matter, and is causing confusion for those looking to support the growing movement.
Robert Ray Barnes founded the Black Lives Matter Foundation in 2015 after the father of his now stepchildren, Earl B. Rhodes Jr., was killed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
“We need to come together,” Barnes said in an interview with KHTS. “I am not a police apologist. I know there are some bad officers out there. But we need to stop butting heads and start talking.”
Barnes says he has no affiliation with the national Black Lives Matter movement, and there has been no communication between the two organizations.
“No one from Black Lives Matter has ever tried to contact me,” Barnes said. “The foundation has nothing to do with their organization.”
In a statement, the national BLM movement said, “The Santa Clarita group is improperly using our name. We intend to call them out and follow up.”
Barnes said he did not intend to deceive those who donated to the foundation, adding the GoFundMe fundraisers were not set up by him or anyone with the foundation.
“I do not want to deceive anyone,” Barnes said. “We did not set up any of those fundraisers, we did not solicit those donations.”
The fundraising site, GoFundMe responded to the confusion saying 180 separate campaigns for the Black Lives Matter Foundation raised about $350,000.
“GoFundMe placed all funds on hold and we working with PayPal and the campaign organizers to ensure all of the money raised is transferred to the Black Lives Matter movement via their fiscal sponsor,” the company said in a statement.
Benevity, a fundraising platform, reported raising $4 million between May 31 and June 7 for the foundation, according to the company’s founder, Bryan de Lottinville.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Benevity said the funds have not been dispersed as of Tuesday, “per our standard vetting and disbursement process.”
In the most recent tax records in 2017, the Black Lives Matter Foundation raised about $280,000, but that number has greatly increased in recent months with the national BLM movement gaining traction.
Some estimates by other media reports claim the foundation has taken in millions in the past few months, but Barnes did not confirm those numbers.
The mission statement for the Black Lives Matter Foundation is “help survivors and families that have suffered from the loss of a relative or loved one as a result of an unjust or questionable police shooting, and use our unique and creative ideas to help bring the police and the community closer together to save lives.”
Barnes said the goal of his foundation is to create more communication between police and the communities they serve.
“This whole idea is about coming together,” Barnes said. “We need creative ways to start the conversation. There has to be away for us to come together and heal.”
After the death of Earl Rhodes Jr., Barnes’ wife’s ex-husband, he became her two children’s legal guardian.
Barnes wanted to keep the memory of their father alive.
“Every time those kids pass by a police car, they remember what happened to their father,” Barnes said. “That is the goal of the foundation, so no other children have to go through that.”
To start the conversation, Barnes plans on creating “prototypes” of programs to implement across the country, such as “Community Organized Programs,” an after-school program and a coffee-with-a-cop discussion.
In the 2017 filings, a portion of the $56,000 in expenditures provided food and clothing for various churches and supported local programs for the homeless.
The organization also filmed, recorded, produced and arranged a for tribute video and original song highlighting those “unjustly slain by police to create better community awareness and support for our foundation,” according to the IRS filings.
That song titled, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot,” features the son of Rhodes discussing police brutality, including the killing of his father.
In addition to the outreach programs and video, Barnes said he also used foundation funds to support other nonprofits, including the Peaceful Warriors Foundation.
In the coming weeks, Barnes plans on increasing the foundation’s activities after fears, he said, of other groups trying to steal his ideas.
“After all of the protests what happens next?” Barnes said. “We need to bring both sides of this issue together and start making change.”
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One of the common threads in most police shootings is that the suspect blatantly resistes arrest, is non-compliant, or even combative with the officer. If one word of advice to the minority community can be communicated and stressed is that if they follow the simple law enforcement instructions in the moment, they can always work out the details later in a safe setting later. Too often minority suspects confuse a police encounter with actual court apprearance.. you DO have a right to remain silent. This will solve 90% of all police related deaths. The other 10% can be dealt with justly by wrongful death complaints and utilizing outside advocacy groups like this guys BLM group.
I’m sure the”minority community” will gladly accept your unsolicited advice. It sounds as if you actually know absolutely nothing about the lives of minorities by what you have posted. You should mind your own business and not spout off your racist views. Perhaps consider yourself lucky that you have not been racially profiled and had your “rights” taken away from you from some biased cop. Sheesh.
Kent, you sound like you’re part of the problem and not the solution
Well said Corey!! Wholeheartedly agree with you.
If you donate to the national BLM group it has been linked to the Democrats and directly into Biden’s pocket so beware!
Starts at home. If the family has distorted perception of cops, they will pass the distorted, dysfunctional mindset down to their kids. Encourage communication with children and officers, it doesn’t hurt but it starts at home. Respect. Don’t break the law. Make good choices. If you are caught breaking a law, it’s best to remain civilized and follow directions.
Victoria: Couldn’t have said better! Enjoy one’s culture and BEHAVE !! Why don’t Japanese, Jews, Koreans, Filipinos have constant problems in everyday life?! BEHAVIOR!!
What the EFF do you know about the lives of any of the people you claim to know so much about? What an ignoramus.
Just like you have given your kids a distorted view of people of color so that they continue your racist beliefs.
No racist beliefs—REALIST knowledge!! You’re fooled by the biased lying media leading the sheep into insanity! Asked a Liberal that loves BBQ, if they would take their family to S. LA for great BBQ for dinner and then stroll around—-if they so NO=Racist!! Reality!!
Marco: That would work, but what about the innocent coyotes, vultures, mountain lions, etc. Plus the beautiful cactus and other plants would be poisoned!
After a quick internet search I came across an la times article which describes Earl B. Rhodes Jr being shot and killed by LAPD after charging them and attempting to take their firearms away from the officers.
Police do kill people and get into brutal fights with people. This is the ugly but necessary side of of police work. Unfortunately people today are unprepared to see this and care more about their feelings than facts.
I would have respect for this mans “BLM Foundation” if he was directing resources to mental health education or spoke of personal responsibility but instead he says the police need to change. How about spending your time and resources on educating the black community to not fight with the police. I guarantee that anyone who complies with the police, doesn’t run, resist or fight, they will not intentionally get killed by the police. It really is that simple.
There is a complaint process with every department in the United States and should be used if someone feels they were treated unfairly. We also have a very just court system, the street is not the place to fight for justice
I would be very interested in seeing what an investigation into this mans ‘Foundation’ would reveal
Thank you I came here to post a reference to the article.
Chris K: Words, behavior, truth spoken well!! Poor emotionally unstable sheep want to blame everyone but themselves and their flock of fools!
We have a very fair court system? You live in a fantasy world dude. The court system is fair to those who have resources you buffoon. Do some research on our prison system and see how fair it is.
Shame on you hometown station for not posting a reference to the article by the la times that states the deceased tried to grab the officers guns & was a big guy.
Give both sides of the incident.
KMS: True, as usual KHTS rarely prints the entire truth, covering up the perpetrators! The young reporters must be learning from the biased Liberal media and not printing the truth/facts, thus scewing reality!
Non compliance with a verbal order is not a felony, let alone a capital offense. Still police shoot deaf people for refusing to follow a screamed command.
And there’s this.
https://youtu.be/OflGwyWcft8
Dave R.: If that’s true?!?? How often does that happen?! None hearing have other sensitive traits, as well as they don’t hang around with Thugs, being smart they usually don’t hang out with Anarchist idiots!!
When you say “thugs”, do you mean Black people? You use that coded language to hide who you really are. A blatant racist!
Kent: Thug=anyone behaving in a criminal thug manner, no matter what the color!
Why don’t other POC like Japanese, Filipinos, Jews, Chinese,, Koreans, etc. have these constant/chronic problems in life?!! BEHAVIOR!!
Oldest after the fact BS excuse is that suspect was going for the gun. It’s my understanding that modern police holsters prevent anyone but the wearer from releasing the weapon.
Yes, they have biometric releases that only allow the wearer to possess the handgun.
What a jackass. The only thing allowing the wearer to possess the weapon is the will and knowledge to retain possession.
Dave R.: What would you do if a loud mouth, resistant possible criminal was aggressively coming at you!?!?
Non lethal force you racist idiot.
Kent: You’re a brainwashed simpleton!!
2 rules for survival on contact with officers of the law. 1 do not commit crimes, they will leave you alone. 2 If you choose to commit a crime DO NOT RESIST ARREST. The officers have about a 99% chance of winning and you will loose one way or the other. The officers of the law clearly killed George Floyd. What would have been the outcome if he didn’t resist arrest. I bet he would have lived to see another day. One a million, bad officers. I would take those odds.
Jim: So true!! The Anarchy continues to subvert blame to everybody but themselves and their resisting criminals!!p
You saw George Floyd resist arrest? Was that when he was handcuffed sitting against the wall?
No, Kent it was after he got picked up from sitting against the wall by the Asian officer, walked across the street by the officer, officer opens the back door of police car to put George Floyd inside and what does George Floyd do??….he throws HIMSELF on the ground and starts crying about going back to jail for the what 10th time? 8th time? 7th time??
That is resisting arrest Sir, plain and simple. Imagine what happens if he gets in the back of the car peacefully??? He probably lives and none of this happens.
Which the WHOLE video, not just what they show you!! We’ve never seen the surveillance video from the liquor store on main media outlets? I wonder why??
Look up the video Kent, educate yourself. Make sure you watch the part where George Floyd drops the white baggie from his hands as the officer sits him down against the wall that you we’re talking about!! Get the whole story my friend.
If you’re are a career criminal and put yourself in these situations time after time after time again…..sometimes these things happen. Resisting arrest high on fentanyl and methamphetamines is probably a bad idea to begin with. He DEFINITELY played a role in his death, he may not have committed it, but he played a part for sure.
Get in the car George instead of throw yourself on the ground and you would be alive today. The officer who committed the murder wasn’t even on scene yet!…FACT!
Crazy, how this video is never shown….makes you wonder.
DO NOT RESIST ARREST. Especially if you have two serious heart conditions and under the influence of Fentanyl and Methamphetamines.
The career criminal was on illegal hard drugs! A probable personal beef, a big strong man probably resisting, but NO reason to kill the career thug!
So predictable the liberal Democrat name calling and everyone is a racist comments. It isn’t racist when someone disagrees with your views. It isn’t racist when people support law and order. It’s a difference of opinion. Tired of this behavior. Vote Red ??
Never ever ever!
Tiana: SO TRUE! Look at the degradation the Anarchist Liberals have caused from Seattle to San Diego, Minneapolis, Chicago, Baltimore, etc., etc.!! Who’s causing the majority of the problems?, not Japanese, Koreans, Jews, Chinese, Filipinos, etc.!!
Just out of curiosity I looked up BLM and found out that it is affiliated with the Democrat party. That was no big surprise. What was, was the money on the Donate site went to ActBLUE . So don’t just take my word check it out. When you click on DONATE it will take you to the page where you can donate money. Click on Terms and Conditions and follow that to see where the MONEY goes. NO MONEY goes to the Black Community. It goes to elect Democratic Candidates.
Liberal, Democratic weasels!! Their Anarchy is degenerating cities from Seattle to San Diego, Chicago, Minneapolis, Baltimore, etc.,etc.!
After searching on YouTube for black people that are not brainwashed by our media I found hundreds trying to speak out to their fellow black community about what is going on. The sad part is YouTube puts them in the Republican section where no brainwashed black American would ever even consider looking even if they have nothing to do with politics. it’s crazy but they are out there lots of them trying to be heard. Shelby Steele,Walter Williams, Larry elder, Thomas sowell, Jason Riley,
There are many people with many different opinions. We know that and respect that. Some manage to do so without using the word “brainwashed” to describe people they don’t agree with. Many factors go into a person’s ideas about life and politics. Our younger adults know how to navigate all over the place to gain interesting ideas, so give them some credit for thinking for themselves. Just something to think about. As a mom, you expect to influence your kids to some extent, along with these other avenues of education/information.
Thanks for listening.