The “GoFundMe” crowdsource fundraising site has shut down a donation page for the legal costs of the Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, after they shut down the donation page for a Christian bakery that was being punished by the state for refusing service to a lesbian wedding.
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GoFundMe pulled the police union’s donation campaign within 40 minutes of its launch, according to Gawker. GoFundMe spokesperson Kelsea Little issued a statement on Saturday, explaining that the campaign violated GoFundMe’s terms.
GoFundMe cannot be used to benefit those who are charged with serious violations of the law. The campaign clearly stated that the money raised would be used to assist the officers with their legal fees, which is a direct violation of GoFundMe’s terms. Specifically, ‘campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts’ are not permitted on GoFundMe.
In response, the Baltimore Police Union asked supporters to mail donations to a specific address, posted on its official Twitter account.
(1/2) THANK YOU for your generous support. We are working to set up a donation point directly on our website. Until then please send to:
— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) May 2, 2015
(2/2) Baltimore City FOP, Lodge #3
3920 Buena Vista Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21211— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) May 2, 2015
This points less to any political spite from GoFundMe than to the propensity of liberals to use the legal system to punish their political opponents.