At least nine well-known Democratic leaders backed a Boston-area Black Lives Matter activist accused of stealing money from an anti-violence group.
Prosecutors say Monica Cannon-Grant and her husband stole money from the nonprofit Violence in Boston to pay for personal costs, including rent, trips, nail salon appointments, and Bubba Gump Shrimp dinners.
The Boost She Needed
Democrats used their platforms to legitimize the activist before her indictment, said Aidan Kearney, a Massachusetts-based writer who carefully followed Cannon-ascent Grant’s among Boston activists in 2020.
According to Kearney, the donors not only gave to her, but also attended racial justice seminars held by Monica. “She couldn’t have done it without their help.”
The elected leaders gladly looked over Cannon-Grant’s antics, such as her blistering outburst against a black Republican lady married to a white guy in 2020.
Prosecutors claim Cannon-Grant and her husband used “Violence in Boston” to benefit themselves when they formed it in 2017.
The two are accused of diverting funds meant to buy food for needy children, assist at-risk young men in dealing with local violence, and organize black women’s conventions.
After George Floyd’s death, Cannon-Grant’s reputation expanded, due to widespread turmoil.
In the 18-count indictment, authorities stated “with this bigger stream of VIB money, Cannon-Grant and Clark Grant proceeded to assist themselves to greater abundance from the VIB Bank Account.”
In 2020, the Boston Magazine named Cannon-Grant as “Best Social Justice Advocate”, while the Boston Globe named her “Bostonian of the Year.”
In 2019, Cannon-Grant boasted she had Boston authorities on fast dial. Despite the allegations of fraud, elected Democratic leaders aided Cannon-Grant and her organization.
Both Warren and Pressley allegedly donated money to Violence in Boston in June 2020, the same time both politicians attended a virtual activist meeting held by the nonprofit.
In a letter dated June 1, 2020, according to Cannon-Grant’s page, Warren thanked Cannon-Grant for welcoming her to the online summit in a letter dated June 1, 2020.
Bragging and More Endorsements
According to the Boston Globe, Walsh transferred public funds to Cannon-nonprofit Grant’s in 2018.
Walsh provided the funds after meeting with Cannon-Grant and asking her to write an article for the Boston Globe.
Proud to be in the sea of tens of thousands following @ProRockThrower. Thanks for all you do to challenge, inspire & organize 🔥👑✊
Here’s Monica: https://t.co/uoN1Y8OdCA
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) June 8, 2020
Boston’s incumbent mayor, Michelle Wu, endorsed Cannon-Grant.
I joined @ViolenceNBoston this week for a powerful discussion with community leaders & loved ones of Eric Garner, Andrew Kearse, Stephon Clark, & other Black men & women who died at the hands of police. This is where I’d like to start for real accountability & change: pic.twitter.com/PI8yQ4FVxt
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 3, 2020
On his campaign site, erstwhile Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III hailed Cannon-Grant’s endorsement.
Before her conviction, Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia and former City Councilor Andrea Campbell publicly endorsed Cannon-Grant.
In August, Campbell, running for Massachusetts attorney general, helped out at Cannon-Grant’s nonprofit.
In a post on Facebook, Cannon-Grant hailed former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson as her mentor.
Rachael Rollins, the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, had to withdraw herself from the prosecution of Cannon-Grant.
In April 2019, Rollins called Cannon-Grant a “passionate, talented community champion and a friend.”
Three months later, when Rollins was still the Suffolk County DA, he gave Violence in Boston $6,000 in confiscated funds to help pay for a youth retreat in Philadelphia.
On a trip to Columbia, Maryland, Cannon-Grant and her husband allegedly spent thousands on nail salon treatments, Bubba Gump Shrimp lunches, and cash ATM withdrawals.
