This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-66921951
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bristol Black Lives Matter march organiser admits fundraiser fraud | Bristol Black Lives Matter march organiser admits fundraiser fraud |
| (6 months later) | |
| Xahra Saleem pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud earlier in September | Xahra Saleem pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud earlier in September |
| An organiser of a Black Lives Matter protest has admitted taking money from a fundraising page set up before the toppling of Edward Colston's statue. | An organiser of a Black Lives Matter protest has admitted taking money from a fundraising page set up before the toppling of Edward Colston's statue. |
| Xahra Saleem was one of the organisers of a protest held in Bristol in response to the murder of George Floyd by police in the US. | Xahra Saleem was one of the organisers of a protest held in Bristol in response to the murder of George Floyd by police in the US. |
| It is alleged the excess funds from the fundraiser were supposed to be given to a youth charity. | It is alleged the excess funds from the fundraiser were supposed to be given to a youth charity. |
| Saleem admitted one count of fraud at Bristol Crown Court on 19 September. | Saleem admitted one count of fraud at Bristol Crown Court on 19 September. |
| She is due to be sentenced at the same court on 31 October. | She is due to be sentenced at the same court on 31 October. |
| Edward Colston's statue was torn down in Bristol in 2020 during anti-racism protests which had taken place across the UK. | Edward Colston's statue was torn down in Bristol in 2020 during anti-racism protests which had taken place across the UK. |
| A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the harbour on the day of the protest | A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was thrown into the harbour on the day of the protest |
| Saleem, 23, of Romford, was one of five people behind the group All Black Lives Matter UK, who organised the protest on 7 June 2020. | Saleem, 23, of Romford, was one of five people behind the group All Black Lives Matter UK, who organised the protest on 7 June 2020. |
| In the days leading up to the protest, Saleem organised a fundraising page for personal protective equipment to legally facilitate the march held during the Covid-19 pandemic. | In the days leading up to the protest, Saleem organised a fundraising page for personal protective equipment to legally facilitate the march held during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| An agreement is said to have been made that any excess funds would go to Bristol-based charity Changing Your Mindset Ltd. | An agreement is said to have been made that any excess funds would go to Bristol-based charity Changing Your Mindset Ltd. |
| In January, Bristol Magistrates Court was told that the fundraising page had raised tens of thousands of pounds, but the charity never received any of the funds raised. | In January, Bristol Magistrates Court was told that the fundraising page had raised tens of thousands of pounds, but the charity never received any of the funds raised. |
| Saleem was also charged in connection with a second fundraising page following the protest to raise money for the legal costs of those facing charges. | Saleem was also charged in connection with a second fundraising page following the protest to raise money for the legal costs of those facing charges. |
| Those funds are again alleged to have not been handed over. | Those funds are again alleged to have not been handed over. |
| At a further case management hearing, Saleem pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position in relation to defrauding the charity Changing Your Mindset. | At a further case management hearing, Saleem pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position in relation to defrauding the charity Changing Your Mindset. |
| She is accused of committing both offences in Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, Wiltshire. | She is accused of committing both offences in Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, Wiltshire. |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Swindon | Swindon |
| Black Lives Matter | Black Lives Matter |
| Bristol | |
| Romford | Romford |
| Bristol | Bristol |