GoFundMe is not happy with those who tried to raise money for the suspect of the parade attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
On Sunday, November 21, Darrell Brooks Jr. allegedly drove a red SUV through the annual Christmas parade, striking dancers and performers without slowing down. Brooks, who stopped a local resident’s home for a sandwich, was later arrested.
He is, as of now, being charged in five accounts of intentional homicide for the murders of five adults ranging in age from 52-81. Most of the deceased were part of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies dance troupe.
An 8-year-old boy named Jackson Sparks was also killed in the attack. Sparks, who had undergone brain surgery on Sunday, passed away from his injuries on Tuesday. His brother, Tucker Sparks, 12, has also been hospitalized for road rash and a fractured skull, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
Many members of the public expressed concern that Brooks was out on the streets at all. Brooks, a registered sex offender, posted a $1,000 dollar bond only a few days before the attack after he allegedly punched the mother of his child in the face and ran her over with his car at a gas station.
Although Brooks has a decades-long criminal history, someone by the name of James Norton created a GoFundMe raise to try to raise his bail of $5 million dollars.
GoFundMe For ‘Our Dear Friend’ Darrell Brooks Created
The GoFundMe page, which has now been deleted, insists that there is “much more to the story the media is not telling us.”
The plea began, “On November 21st, 2021 our dear friend Darrell Brooks was arrested for allegedly driving his car into a parade, as someone who knows Darrell 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.”
They continue, “Clearly there is more to the story the media is not telling us and I am seeking to raise the bail so Darrell 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.”
They end the message by saying, “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.”
They concluded with the hashtags #BLM, #IStandWithDarrell, #NoJusticeNoPeace, and #RacismIsReal.
GoFundMe Yanks Page, Claims Violation Of Terms Of Service
GoFundMe immediately removed the campaign from its platform before any funds could be raised, claiming that it violated GoFundMe’s terms of service agreement.
After controversy arose for fundraising efforts related to Kyle Rittenhouse, who was recently acquitted of the fatal shooting of two during riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, GoFundMe revised its rules to prohibit “raising money for the legal defense of an alleged violent crime.”
A spokesperson for the site said that the person who created the fundraiser was “banned from using the GoFundMe platform for any future fundraisers.” They further revealed that they have a “crisis response team” tied to the Waukesha attack, to make sure that all campaigns related to the tragedy are legitimate.
