GoFundMe calls Freedom Convoy an "occupation." What started as a protest against vaccine rules for border-crossing Canadian truckers has morphed into a massive—and more than a week long—demonstration against all sorts of COVID-19 mandates in Canada. Things have been largely peaceful, but the city of Ottawa is declaring a state of emergency and the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe is refusing to turn over millions of dollars raised for the protests.
"GoFundMe supports peaceful protests and we believe that was the intention of the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser when it was first created. 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," the company declared in a statement.
