GoFundMe closes ‘Freedom convoy’ fundraiser after reports from police

The online fundraising platform GoFundMe has closed the fundraising page for the “Freedom convoy” after concluding the Ottawa protest has become an occupation.

“GoFundMe supports peaceful protests and we believe that was the intention of the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser when it was first created,” the platform wrote in a blog post about the decision.

In fact, the company initially released $ 1 million in funds to convoy organizers on Jan. 27 after they presented a plan for distributing the money to convoy participants.

Reports from police have seemingly changed that.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other illegal activity,” said the statement, released Friday.

The platform is allowing requests for donation refunds until Feb. 19.

Chris Barber, one of the original organizers of the protest, took to TikTok on Friday to condemn the decision.

Now GoFundMe has canceled the $ 10 million thing, essentially leaving a whole bunch of trucks in Ottawa with no fuel money to get home. If this should not piss everyone off right to the core of your foot I do not know what will, ”he said. “There are a few people in the high rises who do not like the horns and I apologize for that. I do not know what else to do about that. ”

He encouraged donors to the campaign to request their money back.

The fundraiser in support of those protesting vaccine mandates had become the second largest campaign in Canada, second to the campaign created following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018.

Started on Jan. 15 by Alberta woman Tamara Lich, the fundraiser stated that it was seeking donations to help with the cost of fuel, food and lodgings for truckers making their way to Ottawa.

The fundraiser was placed “under review” on Thursday, after raising more than $ 10 million, before being closed.