Key Takeaways:
- A GoFundMe campaign to support the “Freedom Convoy,” a group of truckers and supporters who have been blocking downtown Ottawa streets in protest of vaccine mandates, has been halted.
- By Tuesday, the fundraiser had been dubbed Canada’s second-largest, with a total of $9.5 million, second only to the Humboldt Broncos’ fundraiser in 2018.
- Residents and city councilors in Ottawa have demanded that the convoy’s occupation of the city’s downtown be ended.
A GoFundMe fundraiser for the “Freedom Convoy” of truckers and supporters who have blocked downtown Ottawa streets protesting vaccine mandates has been halted.
The fundraiser, which is currently being evaluated, has raised more than $10 million. This is the second time GoFundMe has put a hold on the funds.
On Wednesday night, a pinned post from GoFundMe at the top of the fundraiser said, “This fundraiser is currently paused as well as under review to ensure it complies with our terms of service and also applicable laws and regulations.” “Our team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we’re doing everything we can to protect both organizers and donors.” “I appreciate your patience.”
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The first time GoFundMe frozen funds were in mid-January when they were at $4.5 million. GoFundMe stated at the time that they needed more information on how funds would be distributed. After receiving a plan for the money to be distributed to truckers to cover the cost of gas for the Parliament Hill protest, GoFundMe released an initial $1 million to the organizers on Thursday.
The fundraiser had been asserted the second-largest in Canada by Tuesday when it reached $9.5 million, second only to the Humboldt Broncos’ fundraiser in 2018.
According to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser’s description, funds will be used to cover the costs of the truckers’ journey to Ottawa, including fuel, food, and lodging, with any remaining funds going to “a credible Veterans organization that the donors will choose.”
Although the convoy’s original stated goals were to protest vaccine mandates that required all travelers, including truckers, to be fully immunized to cross the US border without being quarantined, the protest has since expanded to include other COVID-19 regulations, such as wearing masks.
After days of honking, Ottawa residents and city councilors have demanded that more be done to end the convoy’s occupation of the city’s downtown.
Some have requested that the federal govt intervene and send the RCMP to redirect the trucks.
Diane Deans, a city councilor and the Ottawa Police Services Board chair, suggested that Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau contact GoFundMe and persuade them to deny protesters access to the millions raised.
“They’re funding these mercenaries,” Deans said, “and that funding stream needs to be cut off.”
Source: CTV News
