‘Beginning of the end’: GoFundMe faces avalanche of backlash after yanking Freedom Convoy campaign

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(Video Credit: CBC News: The National)

GoFundMe is getting hammered on social media after they blocked $9 million in donations from being distributed to Canadian truckers protesting mask mandates and shut down the “Freedom Convoy” page, spurring the movement to go global.

GoFundMe stated on Saturday that the donations will now be refunded to those who supported the movement.

“GoFundMe supports peaceful protests and we believe that was the intention of the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser when it was first created,” the fundraising site stated on Friday. “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.”

They went on to announce that refunds will be made automatically to donors within 7 to 10 business days.

The backlash from the move was off-the-charts. Everyone from Donald Trump Jr., to Elon Musk to ordinary citizens across the globe piled on.

“Double-standard?” Musk pointed out on Twitter. He also shared a screenshot of a June 2020 tweet GoFundMe posted in support of Seattle’s lawless CHOP, an “autonomous zone” where riots broke out and police were not permitted to enter.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urged residents in his state to contact him if they believed they had been victimized by false advertising by entities such as GoFundMe.

“#GoFundMe now won’t honor #FreedomConvoy donations and will instead redirect to other charities?” Morrisey tweeted Friday. “In WV, organizations must not deceive donors and engage in deceptive advertising practices. If you’ve been victimized by a deceptive act or practice, let us know!”

Donald J. Trump Jr. tweeted in response: “All GOP Attorney Generals should be looking at this & helping to get people their $$$ back so it can be redirected to the truckers. Don’t let @gofundme scam you… call your AGs & let them know. GFM seems to have no problem finding BLM riots… peaceful truckers should be fine too.”

Independent journalist Andy Ngo had an epic thread showing that GoFundMe doesn’t seem to have a problem with fundraising for leftist “occupations,” just those with conservative political or social views, including standing against what many consider to be unconstitutional mask and vaccine mandates.

Protests are going global against mandates and the Freedom Convoy helped that along nicely in Canada. Helsinki, Finland saw a convoy of motor vehicles clog its streets on Friday protesting lockdowns.

Truckers and other motorists also gathered in the Netherlands last week to protest their nation’s COVID lockdown rules according to Breitbart.

There is also a significant movement in the United States where more than 137,000 signed up for a convoy to DC in March to protest mandates, but Facebook shut down their page. The “Convoy to D.C. 2022,” was a focal point for truckers to plan and coordinate their trek from California to Washington, DC. The move has reportedly not deterred the group and they are moving forward with support from millions of Americans across the country.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

Social media was set on fire over GoFundMe’s actions:

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