Prominent BLM activist behind iconoclastic rally jailed for defrauding donors to fund her lavish lifestyle



A prominent BLM activist who helped organized a British statue-toppling protest in 2020 has been sentenced to over two years in jail for defrauding donors.

Xahra Saleem, 23, set up a GoFundMe campaign ahead of an iconoclastic Bristol rally, begging strangers for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars to help purchase personal protective equipment to ensure that the mob — that would ultimately go on to illegally tear down the statue of Edward Colston and throw it into the harbor on June 7 — was properly masked. Owing to the publicity around the protest, the fundraising campaign was a huge success, bringing in nearly $40,000.

The BBC reported that it was made abundantly clear to donors that the excess funds raised would go to Changing Your Mindset Ltd., a now-defunct youth-based charity that had appointed Saleem its director. However, rather than have this money go to help British youths, Saleem transferred the cash to her personal bank accounts and burned through it between June 2020 and September 2021.

Judge Michael Longman told Saleem that whereas the charity the funds were intended for was a "worthwhile cause," she instead frittered away the funds on herself for a lifestyle she "could not otherwise have afforded."

Among the 2,512 payments she made, drawing on donors' funds, Saleem bought an iPhone, an iMac, and luxury clothing. She also treated herself to hair and beauty treatments, various Amazon purchases, takeout, and over $7,000 in Uber rides.

When it seemed the funds and fun were coming to an end, Saleem admitted to a friend over WhatsApp that she had done "something horrendous," reported the Independent.

Members of the organization issued an ultimatum in June 2021, demanding that Saleem transfer the funds. In response, Saleem admitted to blowing the dough, but suggested her undiagnosed psychosis was to blame, writing, "I am so sorry, I am still trying to understand my actions as well."

Saleem's fraud and deceit resulted in a cancellation of a once-in-a-lifetime educational trip to Africa and finally the closure of Changing Your Mindset.

"We were led on a journey of deceit which was full of lies and left us having to clear our own names and stop the group sessions," the organization told the Independent.

Longman emphasized to Saleem, "Your dishonest behavior continued for a substantial amount of time. There were a large number of victims. You must have realized how much your behavior would affect so many people," reported National Review.

Prominent activists in the BLM movement appear to have a tendency to grossly benefit from their supposed philanthropy on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2021, Tyree Conyers-Page was hit with three counts of money laundering and one count of wire fraud for allegedly creating a "Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta" Facebook page and using it to defraud donors out of $450,000. His trial has been delayed until April 2024.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said, "Page allegedly purchased homes, traveled, and spent other people's money to buy luxury items for himself, all on the backs of hardworking people believing they were donating to a worthy cause. The FBI will continue efforts to root out fraudsters who victimize our fellow citizens for personal gain."

Following the alleged fraudster's arrest, GoFundMe indicated it would refund donations.

Blaze News previously reported that BLM activists Monica Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, were charged with 18 federal counts in connection to their nonprofit organization, Violence in Boston. They allegedly raised over $1 million but spent a significant portion on themselves. Among the alleged expenditures were personal travel and hotel reservations, nail salon appointments, and nights out.

WPDE-TV reported in May that federal tax filings from 2020 to 2022 revealed only $30 million of the $90 million Black Lives Matter raised went to other charitable organizations. $22 million went to expenses. $1.6 million went to BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors' father for security service. $2.1 million went to BLM board member Shalomyah Bowers for consulting.

Following reports that BLM co-founders Cullors, Alicia Graza, and Melina Abudullah treated themselves to a $6 million mansion in Southern California with donation money, activists filed suit, alleging this purchase and other expenditures amounted to fraud. Their suit was dismissed in June by a judge who concluded their "complaint fails to sufficiently allege the how, when, where, to whom, and by what means" misrepresentations were tendered.

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Graphic bodycam footage captures moment wounded Bristol officer blasted suspected cop killer



On October 12, in Bristol, Connecticut, police officers responding to a fake domestic violence call were met by a hail of bullets in what is now believed to have been an ambush. Two officers were killed in the attack. A third was wounded. Newly released bodycam footage shows that, amid screams and under fire, the injured officer coolly circled back to restore order with a well-placed shot.

The state inspector general's office released Officer Alec Iurato's bodycam footage on Saturday.

The other two officers who were slain in the ambush, 35-year-old Sergeant Dustin DeMonte and 34-year-old Officer Alex Hamzy, similarly wore bodycams, but that footage will not be disclosed at this time, as doing so would reportedly "constitute an unwarranted invasion" of their privacy.

According to the inspector general's report, DeMonte, Hamzy, and Iurato responded to 310 Redstone Hill Road. The 911 call that prompted their presence was allegedly made by Nicholas Brutcher, the 35-year-old suspected cop killer.

WNBC reported that sometime prior to the incident, Brutcher had been thrown out of an establishment for being disorderly and issued a summons by police. He allegedly returned home, armed himself with a semiautomatic rifle, and made the fraudulent 911 call.

When Bristol police arrived on the scene, they went to the side door of the house. There they spoke to Nathan Brutcher, the suspect's 32-year-old brother. When they ordered Nathan to show his hands and step outside, his brother, lurking behind, allegedly opened fire.

In the ensuing gunfight, Brutcher reportedly fired over 80 rounds at police, fatally striking DeMonte and Hamzy, and wounding Iurato in the leg. Nathan Brutcher was also injured.

The bodycam footage shared by the inspector general's office revealed what happened next from Iurato's perspective.

Iurato announced over his radio, "Shots fired, shots fired. Send everyone."

Ostensibly fighting to maintain his balance in light of his leg wound, Iurato then noted, "Officers shot."

In the video, a woman's cries can be heard, punctuated by additional gunshots.

The wounded officer limped around the front of the house and to cover behind a Bristol Police Department cruiser.

Iurato passed alongside one vehicle and beside another. Against the driver's door of a second cruiser parked in front, closer to the sound of the screams and shooting, he peered over the top of the vehicle.

Around 1:45 in the video, an agonized female voice cries out, "He's dead." A distant male voice responds with what may have been taunting.

Having spotted Brutcher, Iurato took aim. With a single shot, he made forever sure the suspect would never take another.

Illuminating the suspect's corpse with his flashlight, the wounded officer provided an update over radio: "One down. Suspect down."

Bristol Final youtu.be

Although multiple agencies, including the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and the New Britain Judicial District state's attorney's office, are investigating the officer-involved shooting, the inspector general's release nevertheless noted that "it is evident from the evidence collected so far that Officer Iurato's use of deadly force was justified."

One witness, Ken Przygocki, told Channel 3, "I probably heard 12 to 15 bangs, looked around about a minute later, [then heard] another rapid fire and then one single shot."

Przygocki spoke to the ultimate sacrifice made by the police killed in the incident: "Words can't explain it. These guys protect us. ... They know every day you got out there life or death."

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong tweeted: "Today is a tragic day for our state, for the Bristol community, and for the families of Sgt. Demonte and Officer Hamzy who died as heroes responding bravely to the most dangerous and volatile of emergency calls."

\u201cToday is a tragic day for our state, for the Bristol community, and for the families of Sgt. Demonte and Officer Hamzy who died as heroes responding bravely to the most dangerous and volatile of emergency calls.\u201d
— AG William Tong (@AG William Tong) 1665668713

At the vigil held last week for DeMonte and Hamzy, Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould stated, "They were incredible, remarkable men. ... They showed up, they answered the call of service. They thought they were going somewhere to give help and their lives were needlessly taken and another seriously injured.”

DeMonte is survived by a wife and two young children. Hamzy was reportedly planning to celebrate his first wedding anniversary on October 14.

Officer Iurato survived his injury and was released from St. Francis Hospital on Thursday. Outside, he was greeted by applause from members of law enforcement.

\u201cLISTEN: #Bristol Officer Alec Iurato was released from St. Francis Hospital moments ago... and received applause from colleagues and other officers. He was seriously hurt in a shooting that killed two other officers. https://t.co/mUzCvr5qxK\u201d
— WFSB Channel 3 (@WFSB Channel 3) 1665675151