The crowdfunding service, GoFundMe shut down a page dedicated to raising $600,000 for the six police officers charged with the death of Baltimore’s Freddie Gray yesterday.
Shortly after the charges were levied against the six officers, the Baltimore Police Union began the page with the intent of raising the cash for the officers’ “living and legal expenses.” But the page was quickly shut down about 40 minutes after the charges were announced because, according to the company, the page violated the company’s terms of use.
“GoFundMe removed the fundraising campaign created for the Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray,” company spokeswoman Kelsea Little said Friday.
“GoFundMe cannot be used to benefit those who are charged with serious violations of the law,” she said. “The campaign clearly stated that the money raised would be used to assist the officers with their legal fees, which is in 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,” she added.
