Ron DeSantis threatens to investigate GoFundMe for blocking funds raised for anti-vax truckers
Some anti-vax truckers have been speaking out against a requirement that truckers working across the U.S./Canada border be vaccinated for COVID-19. Calling themselves the Freedom Convoy, they raised $10 million via GoFundMe — and GoFundMe blocked those donations. Now, far-right Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is threatening to investigate GoFundMe with the help of Florida State Attorney General Ashley Moody.
GoFundMe announced, “Given how this situation has evolved, no further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers — we will work with organizers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities chosen by the Freedom Convoy 2022 organizers and verified by GoFundMe.”
On Saturday morning, February 5, DeSantis tweeted, “It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing. I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices — these donors should be given a refund.”
But Business Insider’s Sarah Al-Arshani, on February 6, reported that DeSantis’ “remarks came after GoFundMe already announced it had changed its approach and would instead be sending all donors a refund.” GoFundMe made that announcement on February 4, the day before DeSantis’ tweet.
It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing. \n\nI will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices \u2014 these donors should be given a refund.— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis) 1644073468
The update we issued earlier enabled all donors to get a refund and outlined a plan to distribute remaining funds to verified charities selected by the Freedom Convoy organizers. However, due to donor feedback, we are simplifying the process and automatically refunding donations.— GoFundMe (@GoFundMe) 1644047784
Another fake manufactured controversy.https://twitter.com/gofundme/status/1489870511215546371\u00a0\u2026— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1644076516
In that February 4 statement, GoFundMe said, “We will automatically refund all contributions directly — donors do not need to submit a request.”
On January 15, a Canadian law went into effect that requires truckers entering Canada from the United States to show proof that they have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The law also requires unvaccinated Canadian truckers who are reentering Canada after visiting the U.S. to take a COVID-19 test and quarantine.
