Posted on 02/09/2022 5:01:37 AM PST by redguyinabluestate
GoFundMe has frozen access to more than $160,000 in funds raised by supporters of a convoy of trucks and cars converging on Canberra to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
After vehicles began arriving in the national capital on Monday morning, Australian Federal Police were forced to defend the front doors of Parliament House, as hundreds of people who were part of the larger protest moved towards the public entrance.
The Convoy to Canberra rally is being led by groups who are against mandatory vaccinations and includes the so-called Sovereign Citizens movement, with many trucks, vans and cars travelling thousands of kilometres from interstate to join the rally.
Many demonstrators were seen waving the Australian and red ensign flags upside down, which is widely seen as a signal of distress, while some were holding signs with the message "Make Australia Great Again".
Members of the crowd yelled "freedom" and "sack them all" and also belted out renditions of Amazing Grace and John Farnham's You're the Voice.
The Last Post was also played.
Parliament is not sitting until next week, but the demonstrators demanded a "representative" come and address the people who had travelled to be in Canberra and took to social media to declare the protests would take place over several days.
The protest mirrors similar protests overseas, including a convoy of thousands of Canadian truckers and other protesters who converged on Ottawa over the weekend to protest against the government's vaccine mandate.
But a crowdfunding effort by the demonstrators has run into trouble, with the funding website GoFundMe freezing access to money.
A GoFundMe associated with the Australian convoy has been widely circulated among supporters on social media and raised more than $160,000 from over 2,500 donations in four days.
But the anonymous organiser, who calls themselves Ironbark Thunderbolt, is unable to access the funds until they are able to detail how the money will be spent, according to GoFundMe.
"The funds will be held safely until the organiser completes the verification process, and is able to provide documentation to our team about how funds will be distributed," a spokesperson from the funding website said.
On the convoy's GoFundMe's description, the person who calls themselves Ironbark Thunderbolt says the money will be given to West Australian doomsday prepper, James Greer, who has declared his intention to drive his camper van to Canberra to protest vaccine mandates.
"Money will be withdrawn into James' account and the team will gather receipts and information from those in need for reimbursement or transfer," the convoy's GoFundMe description reads.
"Transfers will then be made directly to the people in need. Our lawful team are happy to deal with any discrepancies."
Ironbark Thunderbolt, Mr Greer and other organisers of the convoy have not responded to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the GoFundMe is still being promoted and supporters and donors have not been informed the funds have been frozen.
Using Gofundme? Beyond stupid.
Where are the detailed spending plans from Antifa/BLM?
How this behavior isn’t theft escapes me…
Gee, who could have seen that coming?
Gofundme has so much character, depth and honesty that they want to be sure the money is going to right cause!!~sarc
They are already under investigation after the Canadian stunt. GFM is in California, so they are fair game for US prosecution.
I guess their media hasn’t gotten around to telling them about GFM yet. *snort*.
spending plan?
they’ll spend it on cheeseburgers for all it matters.
since when did GoFundMe have to ‘approve’ how the money was to be spent?
if that’s the case, any monies they distributed that ended up funding groups which led to damages... GoFundMe would hold some of the responsibility.
Exactly!!
After my community burned and I was homeless, GoFundMe cut me off as “ not a legitimate cause”
Only the left gets charity.
GoFundMe ..... #GoTruckYourself.
Gofundme is dead.
So they are doubling down on the stupidity? Incredible.
“Eff you, that’s our spending plan.”
Aussies (hand slaps forehead), you can’t use the hopelessly Leftist GoFundMe. Use either, Givesendgo or cryptocurrency. Either one works and will not try to censor you, cancel you or steal your money.
They will be distributed to “human beings to survive and any God given right activity”. Now GFY.
They act as though it is THEIR money. It isn’t. This needs criminal prosecution.
Do they ask for this information from every GFM account? Of is this unique and the first time?
Cancelled mine yesterday.
GFM takes a cut of every donation like it or not. GSG asks you for a small sum and it is up to you to give.
Big difference.
I have heard that when GFM started returning the donations, they kept their cut and you did not get that back. Not 100% sure this is true.
But if it is.....
I consider that as criminal because they did not execute their side of the deal which were donations to the truckers.
I don’t stick up for GoFundMe but they have a problem.
Suppose GoFundMe allowed a page dedicated to a pedophile cause to be set up. How well would that go over with the general public?
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