GoFundMe to ban fundraisers for travel to potentially violent political events

GoFundMe announced Tuesday that it is banning fundraisers geared toward travel expenses to political protests, a decision that comes less than a week after the pro-Trump riots at the Capitol left five people dead. 

“Due to the violence, GoFundMe has removed numerous fundraisers intended to raise money for travel expenses,” a spokesperson said in a statement, adding it will remove future fundraisers travel to any political events where there is a “risk of violence by the attendees.”

“We strongly condemn the violence and attempted insurrection and will continue to remove fundraisers that attempt to spread misinformation about the election, promote conspiracy theories and contribute to or participate in attacks on US democracy,” GoFundMe said.

The move comes after pro-Trump protesters used the platform to generate cash before last week’s violent siege at the Capitol attempting to challenge the president’s electoral defeat, according to CNN Business.

“Over the last several months and leading up to the rally and subsequent violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, GoFundMe removed several fundraisers attempting to challenge the legitimate results of the 2020 election,” the company said.

Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick was among those who died following injuries he sustained during the siege. Federal authorities are reportedly preparing to open a murder investigation into his death.

An officer who served with Sicknick started a GoFundMe for his family that has generated significant attention, garnering more than $615,000 donations as of Tuesday afternoon. 

Other tech corporations are also attempting to crack down on the incitement of violence following the Capitol riots.  

Stripe, an online payments processing company, announced Monday that it will no longer process payments made to the president’s campaign, saying the organization violated the platform’s policies against encouraging violence.

The company requests that users not collect payments for “high-risk” activities, including for any business or organization that “engages in, encourages, promotes or celebrates unlawful violence or physical harm to persons or property,” according to its website. 

Twitter permanently suspended Trump’s account, and Facebook declared the president could not have access until at least President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.