Portland Has Given Millions to a Sketchy ‘Anti-Racist’ Group That Won’t Say What It Plans To Do With The Money

The City of Portland, Oregon has been making headlines lately for its controversial decision to give a $5 million grant to an “anti-racist” group called Reimagine Oregon. The catch? The group has yet to reveal what it plans to do with the money. Despite this lack of transparency, the city has reaffirmed its commitment to the grant, much to the dismay of some local activists.

Reimagine Oregon was formed by black activists in 2020 and has been advocating for policies such as defunding the police and redistributing wealth in order to “dismantle systemic racism.” However, the group has been criticized for its lack of concrete plans and its murky financial situation. In fact, the group has not spent a single penny of the nearly $5 million in taxpayer funds that it has received so far.

Portland city commissioner Mingus Mapps recently proposed terminating the grant and redirecting the money to other causes, but his amendment was shot down after facing fierce opposition from local black activists. Mapps, who is the only black member of the Portland city commission, expressed disappointment at the decision, saying that he was trying to push the funds out to African-Americans and that the city needs to be more competent at the basics of government.

The controversy surrounding Reimagine Oregon comes on the heels of other high-profile “anti-racist” and equity groups that have come under fire for their murky finances and shoddy track records. For example, one co-founder of Black Lives Matter Global Network secretly bought a $6 million house with the group’s funds, while another BLM executive allegedly stole $10 million for his own use.

Despite these concerns, Portland lawmakers have doubled down on their commitment to Reimagine Oregon, with some blaming the city for preventing the group from accessing the funds. The city will now funnel the cash through a city bureaucracy focused on small business, which will ostensibly coordinate with Reimagine Oregon to implement the anti-racist group’s goals. However, it remains to be seen where the money will ultimately go.

The situation has sparked a heated debate about transparency, accountability, and the role of government in promoting racial equity. As the controversy continues to unfold, many are left wondering whether Reimagine Oregon will be able to deliver on its promises and whether the city’s decision to give the group such a large grant was the right one.