Republican leaders commit to investigating GoFundMe because the company took down the Freedom Convoy’s fundraiser

February 7, 2022 in News by RBN Staff

 

Source: The Blaze

 

Prominent GOP officials throughout the country are committed to investigating actions taken by GoFundMe in dissolving the fundraiser for Canadian truckers in the Freedom Convoy and refusing to distribute funds raised on their behalf.

The widely popular fundraiser generated several million dollars for the anti-vaccine-mandate protesters before GoFundMe shut it down and refused to pay out the donations.

Newsweek reported, “The fundraising effort had raised C$10 million — around $7.9 million — and C$1 million had already been distributed to the organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy before GoFundMe took the decision to stop the fundraiser. GoFundMe initially announced on Friday it would refund contributions to anyone who applied and the remaining funds would be distributed to charities chosen by the Freedom Convoy organizers and verified by the crowdfunding site.”

However, after intense backlash, GoFundMe changed course and opted to refund all donations made to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser.

GoFundMe shut down the convoy’s fundraiser, saying that it no longer could be considered a peaceful protest.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” GoFundMe wrote, “Following a review of relevant facts and multiple discussions with local law enforcement and city officials, this fundraiser is now in violation of our Terms of Service … and has been removed from the platform.”

The Ottawa Police advocated for all crowdfunding websites to prevent the Freedom Convoy from fundraising.

Saturday morning, Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he will work alongside Florida’s attorney general to investigate GoFundMe and its deceptive practices. Governor DeSantis labeled the company’s tactics as “fraud.”

The attorneys general of several states including West Virginia, Louisiana, and Ohio matched Governor DeSantis’ righteous indignation and made clear that they intend to hold GoFundMe accountable for any potentially illegal acts committed by terminating the Freedom Convoy’s fundraiser.

Patrick Morrisey, the attorney general of West Virginia, told his constituents that if they were victimized to let his office know.

Louisiana’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt said that GoFundMe’s actions were “totally unacceptable” and that he would be “investigating” the company’s “deceptive practices.”

And Dave Yost, the attorney general of Ohio, said that while refunding every donation was the “right thing to do,” he still wanted to hear from Ohioans who gave to the Freedom Convoy.

It’s worth noting that in the summer of 2020, GoFundMe amplified fundraising attempts for people involved in the CHAZ/CHOP movement in downtown Seattle, Washington.

GoFundMe found the Freedom Convoy to be a violent movement worthy of suppression, but it deemed a violent secessionist movement that was a hotbed for rape and murder a worthy cause.

GoFundMe’s message is clear. The company, like countless other Western corporations, will advance the causes of violent leftists while actively working to suppress peaceful, patriotic movements.