GoFundMe Now ‘Refunding All Donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 Fundraiser’

“Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days.”

QUICK FACTS:
  • After GoFundMe took down the “Freedom Convoy” campaign set up on its platform for Canadian truckers protesting harsh Covid-19 mandates imposed by the government and planned to distribute the funds to “verified” charities, the fundraising website decided to refund the donations instead.
  • “To simplify the process for our users, we will be refunding all donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser,” GoFundMe tweeted on Saturday.
  • Donors had given the anti-mandate truckers C$10 million ($8 million USD), but GoFundMe seized the funds after it allegedly found “evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
  • GoFundMe’s allegations are refuted by legal organizations representing the Freedom Convoy.
  • “I would like to see what evidence there is,” said John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which is providing legal representation for the organizers. “That’s political spin.”
  • GoFundMe admitted it was “due to donor feedback” that it decided to “automatically” refund the campaign donations.
WHAT GOFUNDME SAID:

“To simplify the process for our users, we will be refunding all donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser. This refund will happen automatically—you do not need to submit a request. Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days.”

BACKGROUND:
  • new fundraising campaign was opened on the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo on behalf of the Canadian Freedom Convoy after GoFundMe seized the C$10 million its fundraiser had received.
  • The GiveSendGo fundraiser raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day.
  • The fund is currently up to $2,690,797 after only days of being open.
  • Its goal is $16 million.
  • Social media posts show copycat Freedom Convoys popping up in other countries like Finland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

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