Bail Fund Emerges for Waukesha Parade Massacre Suspect
GoFundMe shuts down campaign attempting to raise money for alleged killer
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A fundraising campaign has emerged seeking to raise money to help pay the bail for the suspected killer in Sunday's Waukesha Christmas parade massacre.
GoFundMe was forced to take down a fundraiser attempting to raise bail money for the alleged killer, 39-year-old Darrell Brooks.
Brooks is facing six charges of first-degree intentional homicide for driving his SUV into the crowd in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing 6 people, including an 8-year-old child, and injuring dozens more.
Brooks has a lengthy criminal history that spans decades and even involves disturbingly similar crimes.
Arrested earlier this month for attacking the mother of his child and running her over in his vehicle, only to be released on $1,000 bail, the suspect was offered bail yet again following the deadly attack, this time set at $5 million.
A GoFundMe user attempted to raise the money before the fundraising platform stopped the campaign.
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“On November 21st, 2021 our dear friend Darrell Brooks was arrested for allegedly driving his car into a parade, as someone who knows Darrell Brooks personally I can tell you that he would NEVER do such a thing and I know he is innocent of what he was charged with,” read the fundraiser before it was removed.
“Clearly there is more to the story the media is not telling us and I am seeking to raise the bail so Darrell Brooks can be released and speak his truth to his side of the story in this tragic situation that sees another black man behind bars in a purely political and racist trial.”
“There is no excuse for this continued treatment of black Americans by prosecutors around the country, everyone must be presumed innocent until proven guilty and we ask that he be treated equally as anyone else in this country would be treated and he should be released until found guilty,” the fundraiser continued before listing hashtags like “#BLM” and “#NoJusticeNoPeace.”
A GoFundMe spokesperson told Fox Business that the fundraiser was taken down because it violated GoFundMe’s Terms of Service.
“Fundraisers with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. Our team works with law enforcement to report issues and assists them in any investigations they deem necessary,” the spokesperson said, adding that the organizer has been banned from the platform.
Last year, a Norfolk, Virginia, police officer named Lt. William Kelly was fired for donating $25 to a fundraiser created for Kyle Rittenhouse’s legal defense.
A criminal hacker group called Distributed Denial of Secrets obtained the email addresses of anonymous donors to various campaigns on the site GiveSendGo, an alternative to GoFundMe that lets users send prayers or money to others.
"God bless. Thank you for your courage,” Kelly wrote.
"Keep your head up. You’ve done nothing wrong.
"Every rank and file police officer supports you.
"Don’t be discouraged by actions of the political class of law enforcement leadership.”
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GiveSendGo has since created a campaign on Kelly’s behalf.
"A lot of it is just trying to wrap our brains around the state of where things are at,” GiveSendGo cofounder Heather Wilson said in a statement.
"What’s happening in our world that someone can give a $25 donation and lose their job for supporting someone?
"Kamala Harris promoted giving to bail people who were arrested for rioting, so why wouldn’t that same freedom be afforded to someone else?
"We’re going to allow and promote it on this side, but prevent it on the other?”
Political commentator Candace Owens helped to promote the campaign for Kelly, boosting the fund to over $200,000.
