Justin Trudeau In Hiding As Truckers Protest Vaccine Mandate In Ottawa In Massive Rally
Keneci Channel
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UPDATE: Court Criminalizes Donations To Anti-corona-mandate Protesters
The Ontario government says it has effectively frozen all donations made to the trucker convoy through crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo. It is now criminal to have any "dealing" with money from donations through the platform.
However, GiveSendGo reportedly releases the funds to the American non-profit 'Incorporated Freedom 2022 Human Rights And Freedom Association' which then distributes the funds via cryptocurrency to the TruckerConvoy organizers.
Canada has no jurisdiction over the funds and the U.S.-based crowdfunding company.
"Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo," the crowdfunding company said in a statement. "All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is The Freedom Convoy campaign. Thanks for your concern but this recipient is receiving funds. Donate to Freedom Convoy 2022 Campaign here! https://www.givesendgo.com/freedomconvoy2022"
The Ontario court decision comes days after 'woke' crowdfunding platform GoFundMe stopped accepting donations to the TruckerConvoy campaign.
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UPDATE: GoFundMe Reverses Earlier Decision To Redistribute 'Freedom Convoy' Money Following Backlash; GiveSendGo Steps In To Help
The crowdfunding platform had on Friday, froze the convoy's official campaign, citing law enforcement request.
The company falsely claimed in a statement: "GoFundMe supports peaceful protests and we believe that was the intention of the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser when it was first created. We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe announced. There has been no reports of documented violence at the protest.
GoFundMe's action drew harsh criticism online and scrutiny from several states in America.
"Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers’ worthy cause using GoFundMe," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on social media. "This BLM-backing company went woke, froze the funds, & failed to deliver Texans’ money. Today I assembled a team to investigate their potential fraud & deception. Texas donors will get Justice!"
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also said that he would "investigate" the company, accusing them of fraud.
Within hours, however, GoFundMe relented, instead announcing it would be refunding donors automatically.
GiveSendGo, an alternative pro-free-speech crowdfunding platform has since stepped in to host campaign for the Freedom Convoy, raising $4m in just 48 hours.
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UPDATE: GoFundMe witholds $9m raised by Canada's Anti-vaccine-mandate Protesters, The 'Freedom Convoy'
The crowdfunding platform said in a statement Friday, Februray 4, that it will give the money to other charities. This drew swift criticism online as many donors say they want their donations back.
'Fascist GoFundMe' trended on social media, as many pointed out that the crowdfunding company hosted fundraising for the violent 'Black Lives Matter' movement, a group that funded destructive riots in many western cities in 2020.
GofundMe's action comes a few days after Facebook banned groups supporting the Freedom Convoy organizers from its platform. The organizers have directed donors and supporters to alternative platforms GiveSendGo.com and free speech social media platform Gab.com
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The far-left Canadian prime minister implemented a vaccine mandate for federal workers, and on January 15, instituted a vaccine mandate on all crossing the country's border.
The unpopular policy disproportionately impacted truck drivers who cross the border to-and-from United States daily. President Joe Biden implemented a similar mandate at the U.S. border earlier in the month.
According to Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) estimates, as many as 32,000, or 20 percent, of the 160,000 Canadian and American cross-border truck drivers may be taken off the roads due to the mandate.
After apparently failing to get Trudeau to rescind the policy, frustrated truckers took to the roads in protest. Thousands of them have been traveling in a so-called "freedom convoy" for several days on their way to the capital city, Ottawa, for a planned protest in front of parliament Saturday.
Trudeau had earlier in the week characterized the protesters as "small fringe minority" who hold "unacceptable views." His comments drew sharp criticism and mockery online, with many expressing support for the truckers on social media.
“I learned that I have been exposed to COVID-19," Trudeau tweeted on Thursday, days before the truckers arrived in Ottawa. "My rapid test result was negative. I am following @OttawaHealth rules and isolating for five days. I feel fine and will be working from home.”
Many critics online wondered if his tweet had something to do with the truckers' protest, after it was reported that the prime minister and his family have fled their home in Ottawa for “a secret location.” Canadian left-wing state broadcaster CBC reported that the prime minister left his home due to “security concerns.”
Over 60 thousand protesters converged outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Saturday, as 'FreedonConvoy22' trended throughout the day on social media.
Many conservative politicians, influencers and prolific Twitter user and billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk, all expressed support for the Canadian truckers.
"Canadian Truckers rule," Musk first tweeted Thursday. He also wrote in reaction to the massive protest Saturday that "protesting in a Canadian winter shows real commitment." He also observed: "it would appear that the so-called "fringe minority" is actually the government," apparently referencing Trudeau's comments.
Facebook deleted a group supporting the Canadian Truckers. Many supporters have moved to the group's account on free speech social media network Gab, where the CEO Andrew Torba welcomed them.