Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

Despite going against its own terms and conditions and repeated violation reports, GoFundMe has yet to remove a fundraiser created on behalf of ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who murdered 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7. The fundraiser has raised $792,897 since it launched on January 9, and donations continue to come in.

For over two weeks, community members who are outraged by Good’s murder have been reporting to fundraiser page, but GoFundMe has yet to take any action. The organizer, a Michigan man named Clyde Evans, stated these funds will go towards Ross to help pay for any legal fees. The federal government, however, stated that Ross and ICE agents have “full immunity,” leaving some wondering if those funds will simply be pocketed.

“Every fundraiser on GoFundMe has a ‘report fundraiser’ button where anyone can alert our Trust & Safety team to concerns about misuse or a violation of our Terms of Service,” according to GoFundMe.

Ross’s fundraiser goes against GoFundMe’s sections 8.8 and 8.10 of its terms of service. Section 8.8 states that fundraisers are to be prohibited from supporting bullying, discrimination, extremism, harassment, and hate, among others.

Fundraisers through the company also cannot be made for “the legal defense of financial and violent crimes, including those related to money laundering, murder, robbery, assault, battery, sex crimes, or crimes against minors.”

GoFundMe has to power to place a fundraiser on hold while it investigates reports, like violations of its terms of service. This usually happens within a couple of business days. Ross’s most recent donation was on January 25.

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