GoFundMe Pulls Fundraising Account Raising Funds For Arrested Baltimore Cops

Continuing its recent attacks on everything that could possibly upset progressives,  on Friday GoFundMe removed from its site a fund raising appeal for the police officers who were arrested for the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.

“Apparently our GoFundMe account has been suspended with no explanation,” said the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police on Twitter. “We are working to find a new site for donations. Thank you!”

(...)The Baltimore FOP site had set a goal of $600,000 for the six officers charged Friday in the death of the 25-year-old Gray, who died April 19 from spinal injuries sustained while in police custody.

The police union said in its statement on the now-defunct campaign site that it has been “overwhelmed with the enormous generosity of people from around the world.”

“All monies collected will be used to assist our officers with their living expenses during their unpaid suspension, as well as to help defray their legal expenses,” said the page. “We thank you, in advance, for your continued support.”

During its brief run, the FOP campaign had drawn a rash of criticism on social media. The website Gawker said the page was removed within 40 minutes of being posted.

Last Saturday GoFundMe killed fundraising appeals for Sweet Cakes by Melissa and Arlene’s Flowers. While neither store is accused of a crime, or trying to raise funds for fraudulent reasons, both are facing civil rights claims and judgments because based on their Christian beliefs they refused to provide product for a gay wedding.

On April 29th as a result of the Sweet Cakes by Melissa and Arlene’s Flowers.Policy controversy GoFundMe made changes to its policy to enable them to easily eliminate fundraising campaigns to which progressives may object.

Under its terms and conditions, the words "or claims of" and "discriminatory acts" were added to the line below as part of the list of campaigns "to report if you believe they violate" guidelines. Where once it took formal charges of crimes or hate to ban a fundraising effort, after the changes (posted on April 29), all it takes is somebody to claim an effort is discriminatory.

Campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts

The same words were added to a similar sentence in the section named "What's not allowed," which appears further down on the same page.

On their blog page announcing the changes, the fundraising site adds:

We are also informing users that GoFundMe reserves the right to share the content from a deleted campaign with law enforcement, donors or stated beneficiaries who wish to file a police report about any misuse of fundraising proceeds. The added language can be found below:

By using GoFundMe, Users are representing and warranting that all donations received are being given and being used solely for the purpose(s) stated within the content of the User’s campaign. We reserve the right to provide information relating to your campaign with donors and beneficiaries of your campaign, and with law enforcement or to assist in any investigation.

It seems as if killing the account for the arrested Baltimore Cops is the first victim of the new GoFundMe policy.