GoFundMe for Ottawa protesters shut down

As the protest against Covid vaccine mandates in the Canadian capital of Ottawa entered its second week, the online fund-raising platform GoFundMe on Friday blocked the donations received by the so-called Freedom Convoy 2022 on the grounds that it violated their terms of service.

The platform has come under attack from Canadian MPs, as well as the mayor of Ottawa, as the organisers of the protest collected over CAN$10 million.

On Friday, as the protest completed one week, the GoFundMe issued a statement explaining the removal of the fund-raiser. It said it believed the protest was peaceful when the fund-raiser was first created, but GoFundMe now had “evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity”.

No funds will be given to the organisers, but instead be transferred to “credible and established charities” chosen by them in case any donors to the fundraiser do not request a full refund by February 19, GoFundMe added. The organisers have pivoted to other platforms for fund-raising, with one platform set up by Tamara Lich gathering nearly CAN$1 million within hours of being announced. They have also set up a Bitcoin wallet for funds.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is coordinating with national agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which has increased its involvement in law enforcement vis-à-vis the protests. In a statement issued on Friday, Ottawa Police said it was “working with all three levels of government, to affect a safe, timely and lawful end to this unlawful and unacceptably dangerous demonstration”.