Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has held more than $6 million in funds raised to support the trucker convoy that is protesting vaccine mandates in Canada.
While GoFundMe has been known to hold on to funds, even take down fundraisers of causes it doesn’t agree with, it continues to be the go-to platform for crowdfunding.
“We require that fundraisers be transparent about the flow of funds and have a clear plan for how those funds will be spent. In this case, we are in touch with the organizer to verify that information,” a spokeswoman for GoFundMe said.
“Funds will be safely held until the organizer is able to provide the documentation to our team about how funds will be properly distributed.”
As of Thursday afternoon, funds were raised from 77,600 donors.
The secretary of the Maverick party, Tamara Lich, created the campaign earlier this month, as a way to cover costs for the truckers who are taking part in the protest.
“To our Fellow Canadians, the time for political over reach is over,” the fundraiser states. “Our current government is implementing rules and mandates that are destroying the foundation of our businesses, industries and livelihoods. Canadians have been integral to the fabric of humanity in many ways that have shaped the planet,” Lich writes.
“We are a peaceful country that has helped protect nations across the globe from tyrannical governments who oppressed their people, and now it seems it is happening here. We are taking our fight to the doorsteps of our Federal Government and demanding that they cease all mandates against its people. Small businesses are being destroyed, homes are being destroyed, and people are being mistreated and denied fundamental necessities to survive. It’s our duty as Canadians to put an end to these mandates. It is imperative that this happens because if we don’t our country will no longer be the country we have come to love. We are doing this for our future Generations and to regain our lives back.”