Black Activists Explode over ‘Racist’ Help for Ferguson Cop
Leo Hohmann, WND, August 27, 2014
A group founded by former Obama aide Van Jones and former MoveOn.org activist James Rucker is calling on the Internet fundraising platform GoFundMe.com to take down its “Support Officer Darren Wilson” page, accusing the company of “profiting from racially motivated donors.”
The Color of Change, founded by Jones and Rucker in 2005 to “strengthen the political voice of Black America,” says on its website that donors to Officer Wilson are “celebrating Michael Brown’s death” and that GoFundMe should take down the police officer’s fundraising page and return any profits it has generated.
The fundraising campaign for Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson has exploded over the past nine days, raising more than $234,000 in the original GoFundMe page, as first reported Aug. 19 by WND.
Now Wilson’s supporters have started a second page raising more than $176,000 in six days from nearly 4,000 donors, with the goal of reaching $250,000.
“Every donation, kind word and prayer are deeply appreciated,” the supporters write on the GoFundMe page. “This page will replace the previous ‘Support Officer Wilson’ page, so that donations will be tax deductible through ‘Shield of Hope,’ a certified charity, and the official non-profit organization accepting donations for Officer Wilson at this time.”
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The Color of Change cites several comments on the GoFundMe Officer Darren Wilson page as evidence that GoFundMe is profiting from white racists.
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A form letter is then presented that the Color of Change says will be sent to GoFundMe executives.
Dear GoFundMe co-founders Brad Damphousse and Andy Ballester, and Kelsea of GoFundMe Customer Happiness,
I write demanding that you return any profits from donations for Darren Wilson on your platform. Further, please take down any related fundraising pages.
Your own terms of service prohibit ‘items that promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or the financial exploitation of a crime.’ If Darren Wilson is charged, then it would stand to reason that these fundraisers are in violation of your terms, specifically ‘financial exploitation of a crime.’
GoFundMe should return any money it has made from Darren Wilson fundraising pages, and take them down immediately. Profiting off the killing of Michael Brown is not okay. Profiting off of racially-motivated donors is not okay.
These types of disturbing fundraising efforts have no place on the world’s #1 personal fundraising site.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]