Billionaire investor Bill Ackman gives $10K to UNC American flag ‘rager’

Correction: Bill Ackman has not commented on his intentions regarding donations to Harvard University. The information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe raising money for fraternity members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to throw a party after they held up the American flag at a protest on campus.  

The moment took place when pro-Palestinian supporters replaced the American flag with a Palestinian flag on campus Tuesday, causing skirmishes to break out with counterprotesters.

Pi Kappa Phi members were seen in a viral image holding up an American flag while activists were throwing items at them. The image resonated with many people online, causing John Noonan to start a GoFundMe for the fraternity brothers entitled, “Pi Kappa Phi Men Defended Their Flag. Throw ‘em a Rager.” 

The original goal was $15,000, but in less than two days, the organizer raised more than $400,000 for the group. Ackman is one of the highest contributors. 

Ackman has been vocal about his dismay at the pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, getting heavily involved in the matter following the December House hearing on campus antisemitism.

After former Harvard President Claudine Gay said during the hearing that whether calls for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment would depend on the context, Ackman campaigned for her ouster. 

The Hill has reached out to Ackman for comment.  

“Go Fund has dispatched a member of their team to work closely with us and ensure your donations do as God intended — to show these guys enough fireworks to blow their Oakley aviators straight off their faces,” Noonan said on the GoFundMe campaign.  

The fraternity told The News & Observer they do not know the organizer, and GoFundMe ensured funds would be secured until they could confirm the money would go to the intended recipient.

The Hill has reached out to Noonan, GoFundMe and the fraternity for comments.  

—Updated May 7 at 9:26 a.m.