GoFundMe froze Freedom Convoy truckers’ money when they were told by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, a longtime Liberal, the protesters committed violence, damage and destruction, according to the crowdfunding site’s lawyer..Blacklock’s Reporter says Watson was referring to neighbourhood allegations and not criminal charges, a spokesperson explained..“We reached out and received credible consistent information from members of law enforcement and members of the Mayor’s Office,” Kim Wilford, general counsel for GoFundMe, testified at the Commons public safety committee..“We heard that there were issues around violence, harassment, damage and at that point we reassessed the campaign..“We all discussed the information being received stating there were acts of violence, damage, destruction and harassment.”.The claims were alarming enough that “we made the decision to remove this from our platform,” she said..Watson at the time never publicly accused Freedom Convoy truckers of violence or destruction. Of 197 protesters subsequently charged by police, most were accused of mischief..“Before Mayor Watson met with GoFundMe on February 3 fights had already broken out, residents were being harassed and masks were being ripped off citizens,” said Patrick Champagne, press secretary to the mayor..However, police records show of two men charged with the most serious offences, carrying a concealed weapon and uttering threats, neither were convoy members. Police at the time instead charged eight truck drivers with offences like horn honking, transporting fuel cans, ignoring traffic signals and other traffic-related offences..“I was here,” Conservative MP Doug Shipley (Barrie-Springwater, Ont.) told the public safety committee..In all security briefings given to MPs none mentioned that truckers were violent or destructive, he said..“We were all given briefings as this was going on about attending work, walking to work for employees and for us, and nowhere ever did I see in any of the reports shared that there was violence, threatening behaviour and damage and destruction,” said Shipley..“I did speak to the mayor myself,” replied Wilford..“We did hear reports of harassment, violence, damage occurring. Based on this credible information we made informed decisions that this campaign no longer complied with our terms of service and we removed it from the platform.”.The public safety committee is examining the circumstances of the Freedom Convoy and its subsequent designation as an “illegal assembly” under the Emergencies Act. A timeline shows on:.January 14 the convoy fundraiser was launched on GoFundMeJanuary 28 truckers arrived in Ottawa and began a blockade of ParliamentFebruary 1 Mayor Watson “asked our city solicitor” about GoFundMe donationsFebruary 2 unnamed city officials “shared reports of violence” with GoFundMeFebruary 2 the Freedom Convoy fundraiser was suspended by GoFundMeFebruary 3 Mayor Watson told GoFundMe of “damage” and “destruction”February 4 the $10.1 million GoFundMe account was permanently cancelledFebruary 6 the City of Ottawa declared a local state of emergency.New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat, B.C.) sought details substantiating the claim truckers were violent and destructive..“Can you please provide some detail on what exactly they were reporting to your company that gave you concern?” asked MacGregor..“I think we need to have these details to understand what it was that led to you making that decision to pull this fundraiser.”.“I myself did not have any direct discussions with members of law enforcement,” replied Wilford..“A number of individuals on our team did engage with them and we all discussed the information being received stating that there were acts of violence, damage, destruction and harassment.”.Neither Mayor Watson nor his staff would discuss the case. Watson is a longtime Liberal organizer and former two-term provincial Liberal cabinet minister..The Commons public safety committee asked that city authorities appear for questioning..City police to date have refused..“Why haven’t they shown up?” asked MP Shipley..“They were invited and they came back to us and said because of the intensity of their operations at the moment they could not appear,” replied Liberal MP Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre), chair of the public safety committee.
GoFundMe froze Freedom Convoy truckers’ money when they were told by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, a longtime Liberal, the protesters committed violence, damage and destruction, according to the crowdfunding site’s lawyer..Blacklock’s Reporter says Watson was referring to neighbourhood allegations and not criminal charges, a spokesperson explained..“We reached out and received credible consistent information from members of law enforcement and members of the Mayor’s Office,” Kim Wilford, general counsel for GoFundMe, testified at the Commons public safety committee..“We heard that there were issues around violence, harassment, damage and at that point we reassessed the campaign..“We all discussed the information being received stating there were acts of violence, damage, destruction and harassment.”.The claims were alarming enough that “we made the decision to remove this from our platform,” she said..Watson at the time never publicly accused Freedom Convoy truckers of violence or destruction. Of 197 protesters subsequently charged by police, most were accused of mischief..“Before Mayor Watson met with GoFundMe on February 3 fights had already broken out, residents were being harassed and masks were being ripped off citizens,” said Patrick Champagne, press secretary to the mayor..However, police records show of two men charged with the most serious offences, carrying a concealed weapon and uttering threats, neither were convoy members. Police at the time instead charged eight truck drivers with offences like horn honking, transporting fuel cans, ignoring traffic signals and other traffic-related offences..“I was here,” Conservative MP Doug Shipley (Barrie-Springwater, Ont.) told the public safety committee..In all security briefings given to MPs none mentioned that truckers were violent or destructive, he said..“We were all given briefings as this was going on about attending work, walking to work for employees and for us, and nowhere ever did I see in any of the reports shared that there was violence, threatening behaviour and damage and destruction,” said Shipley..“I did speak to the mayor myself,” replied Wilford..“We did hear reports of harassment, violence, damage occurring. Based on this credible information we made informed decisions that this campaign no longer complied with our terms of service and we removed it from the platform.”.The public safety committee is examining the circumstances of the Freedom Convoy and its subsequent designation as an “illegal assembly” under the Emergencies Act. A timeline shows on:.January 14 the convoy fundraiser was launched on GoFundMeJanuary 28 truckers arrived in Ottawa and began a blockade of ParliamentFebruary 1 Mayor Watson “asked our city solicitor” about GoFundMe donationsFebruary 2 unnamed city officials “shared reports of violence” with GoFundMeFebruary 2 the Freedom Convoy fundraiser was suspended by GoFundMeFebruary 3 Mayor Watson told GoFundMe of “damage” and “destruction”February 4 the $10.1 million GoFundMe account was permanently cancelledFebruary 6 the City of Ottawa declared a local state of emergency.New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat, B.C.) sought details substantiating the claim truckers were violent and destructive..“Can you please provide some detail on what exactly they were reporting to your company that gave you concern?” asked MacGregor..“I think we need to have these details to understand what it was that led to you making that decision to pull this fundraiser.”.“I myself did not have any direct discussions with members of law enforcement,” replied Wilford..“A number of individuals on our team did engage with them and we all discussed the information being received stating that there were acts of violence, damage, destruction and harassment.”.Neither Mayor Watson nor his staff would discuss the case. Watson is a longtime Liberal organizer and former two-term provincial Liberal cabinet minister..The Commons public safety committee asked that city authorities appear for questioning..City police to date have refused..“Why haven’t they shown up?” asked MP Shipley..“They were invited and they came back to us and said because of the intensity of their operations at the moment they could not appear,” replied Liberal MP Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre), chair of the public safety committee.
