In a viral video taken from the BLM Lake County Resource Center in Waukegan, IL, founder Clyde McLemore and project manager Nyesha Hill fought physically over disputed grant money and unpaid wages. McLemore claimed Hill demanded cash and cigarettes, but attacked after he refused, claiming the funds were “gone.”
Hill accused him of misusing BLM funds on personal items and “girls,” said she made the organization work and refused to leave until paid; he shoved her first. Both had minor injuries and neither pressed charges. A prior November fight also stemmed from money disputes. Police found no probable cause for an arrest due to conflicting accounts.
In the chaotic body cam footage, Clyde J. McLemore told officers he “ain’t got no money” to pay Hill, and that the grants had all been spent; “That money is gone.” However, Nyesha A. Hill gave a conflicting report to the police.
“I told him, ‘it’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.’ I’m the one that make this joint work,” Hill alleged, adding that she “does not want to see a black man in jail” and she “sits here hungry” with her child.
Reacting to the viral story, one user posted, “BREAKING: Black Lives Matter founder in IL, Clyde McLemore caught beating his female employee. She accused him of embezzling grants. The fight began in his office when she came to ask for money he owed her. Unclear who threw the first punch.”
Reacting to the video, one user joked, “I’m thinking HR might need to get involved at this point. I’m no Black Lives Matter employee but I’m thinking HR here. Oh wait – no HR at BML-Illinois? Okaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!” Likewise, another comment read, “You buried the lede. She has solid stand up defense + 2 takedowns. That round goes to the female employee.”
As we reported at the American Tribune, this is far from the only controversy related to BLM. Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, executive director of BLM Oklahoma City, was indicted on 20 counts of wire fraud and 5 counts of money laundering for allegedly embezzling $3.15 million in returned bail funds from 2020–2025.
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For context, she diverted money to personal use, including luxury trips, $50,000+ in food deliveries, a vehicle, and six properties, while submitting false reports to sponsors. She faces up to decades in prison if convicted.
The DOJ reported, “Despite the stated purpose of the money raised, and the terms and conditions of the grants, the Indictment alleges that beginning in June 2020 and continuing through at least October 2025, Dickerson embezzled funds from BLMOKC’s accounts for her personal benefit.”
Watch the clip here:
In a desperate attempt to distance itself from the scandal, BLM global claimed, “The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation operates independently from local chapters, and the local chapters operate independently of the Foundation. The Foundation remains committed to transparency and integrity, and disrupting what philanthropy looks like in service of Black people.”
Featured image from embedded video