Monica Cannon Grant Black Lives Matter is one of those women who is an activist but also a woman. She’s been in legal battles, won awards for her activism, and has been the founder of the Boston Police Department’s Violence in Boston program. But what’s really interesting about her story is that she’s also a victim of mistreatment, both by police officers and by her former employer.
Founder of Violence in Boston
Monica Cannon Grant Black Lives Matter is an activist, known for her work in the Black Lives Matter movement in Boston. She has been the driving force behind numerous protests in the city. In May 2020, she helped organize a march in Franklin Park, in which thousands of people came out to protest the death of George Floyd, who was shot and killed by police.
Facebook Page
After Floyd’s death, Cannon-Grant began to gain prominence within the BLM community. Her group, Violence in Boston, received a $6,000 grant to help send a group of at-risk young men to a violence prevention seminar in Philadelphia. They also started a Facebook page, which was used to gather donations for anyone in need.
Federal prosecutors allege that Cannon-Grant and her husband misused the grant money. Prosecutors say they used the money for trips to nail salons, gas, groceries, Uber Eats, and other personal expenses.
Awards She’s Won for her Activism
Monica Cannon Grant Black Lives Matter has been a prominent figure in Boston’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) community. She was named as Boston’s Best Social Justice Advocate by Boston Magazine and was awarded the “Hero Among Us” award by the Boston Celtics. However, she has come under scrutiny in recent months due to a federal investigation of her organization, Violence in Boston.
Address Social Injustices
Monica Cannon Grant Black Lives Matter started the organization as a way to address social injustices in the community. Its website and Facebook page crowdsource donations for victims of violence and provide food to the homeless. In addition to running a food pantry, the charity also runs a website that aims to reduce the prevalence of violence in Boston.
As a result, the nonprofit has received $1.3 million in donations. Despite the influx of funds, Cannon-Grant’s nonprofit has come under financial scrutiny. According to federal prosecutors, she and her husband diverted charitable donations to their personal expenses. Prosecutors do not specify the amounts transferred from the nonprofit to their personal accounts.
Misuse of Donations to her Nonprofit
A woman who has been a key figure in the Black Lives Matter movement has been accused of misusing donations to her nonprofit. According to federal prosecutors, Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, diverted tens of thousands of dollars from public and private sources. They allegedly used the money to pay for personal expenses.
The charges against Cannon-Grant and Grant, who have both been arrested, are part of an investigation by the US Attorney’s Office in Boston. The investigation began in October, when federal officials raided their home in Taunton. Afterward, the couple was charged with mortgage fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy. In addition, the two were ordered not to seek loans.
In March, Cannon-Grant pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against her. She also acknowledged the investigation and said she has been under scrutiny since October.
Boston’s Racial Justice
A high-profile local activist in Boston’s racial justice movement is under federal investigation for allegedly scamming more than $100K in federal unemployment benefits. Monica Cannon Grant and Clark Grant are charged in an 18-count indictment unsealed Tuesday in Boston federal court.
Accused of Defrauding
The pair is accused of defrauding an Illinois-based mortgage lender and the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. They were also accused of using fraudulent documentation to represent assets of their nonprofit as their own.
Cannon-Grant is the founder of Violence in Boston, a nonprofit that aims to reduce violence, promote social awareness, and aid community causes in the city. She also earned a salary of $2,788 per week from the organization. In 2020, she received a Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us award, and was named Bostonian of the Year by the Boston Globe Magazine.
Legal Battles She’s Faced
Monica Cannon has been a prominent Black Lives Matter leader in Boston. She has worked closely with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley. But now, prosecutors are investigating her and her charity.
According to prosecutors, Cannon’s nonprofit, Violence in Boston, misused donations. In a podcast interview, she accused her supporters of working with white supremacists to “bring her down”; she claimed that she was the target of a small group of angry Black people.
Final Words:
Prosecutors allege that Cannon-Grant and her husband Clark Grant lied on loan applications and credit cards to obtain funding for Violence in Boston. They also say that the nonprofit used grant money for personal expenses. It was also accused of illegally claiming the bank account as its own property.
