Why GoFundMe Page Raising Money for Defense of Cops Charged in Freddie Gray's Death Was Taken Down

A representative for fundraising website GoFundMe explained Friday evening why a campaign aimed at raising money for the legal defense of the six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death was taken down.

"GoFundMe removed the fundraising campaign created for the Baltimore police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray," public relations manager Kelsey Little said in a statement to TheBlaze. "GoFundMe cannot be used to benefit those who are charged with serious violations of the law."

Image source: Screen grab

"The campaign clearly stated that the money raised would be used to assist the officers with their legal fees, which is a direct violation of GoFundMe's terms," she added. "Specifically, 'campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts' are not permitted on GoFundMe."

The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police — which called the charges against the officers an "egregious rush to judgement" — had created a page to accept donations to "assist our officers with their living expenses during their unpaid suspension as well as to help defray their legal expenses."

Gawker reported that the page raised $425 before it was removed from the fundraising website in under an hour.

The Baltimore City FOP said on Twitter that it was "working to find a new site for donations."

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