GoFundMe accounts have made headlines in recent months for the questionable nature of fundraising campaigns that have been started through the site. Next up, is the Baltimore Police Union, who attempted to start a page to raise money for the six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray. The page however, was shut down within 40 minutes.
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The page violated a policy on GoFundMe that prohibits the start of campaigns “in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts.” The organization took to Twitter to inform their followers that they would seek out another form of fundraising:
Before the age was deleted, it featured a statement to potential donors, noting that the money would be used to help the six officers with legal fees after having been “wrongly charged:”
“The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #3 has been overwhelmed with the enormous generosity of people from around the world. We have received many requests to open an online account that will accept monetary donations for the 6 officers who have been wrongly charged in the death of Freddie Gray. 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.We thank you, in advance, for your continued support.”
The union is now seeking a new way to collect funds.