Freedom-lovers throughout Canada are once again contributing to a GiveSendGo crowdfunding campaign, this time to raise cash for Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich..Lich was charged with mischief, among other offences, following the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa. She was eventually granted bail weeks afterward. Her bail was revoked last week for allegedly breaking her release conditions having been photographed with another Freedom Convoy organizer at an awards ceremony in Toronto..Lich has been imprisoned since she was taken into custody in Medicine Hat on June 27, after Ottawa police issued a Canada-wide warrant for her arrest..So far, the GiveSendGo campaign has raised $25,729. Organizers on the campaign site are appealing for funds so Lich can cover expenses she and her family are struggling to cover since Lich lost her job as a result of being returned to jail.."As I'm sure you are aware, Tamara Lich has been incarcerated once again for fighting for our freedoms. She accepted the JCCF's George Jonas Freedom Award on June 16, 2022. She was then arrested 11 days later on June 27, 2022. Since being incarcerated, she has lost her job, which will cause her and her family financial strain. Tamara has made great sacrifices for this country and the world. Her only goal is to restore FREEDOM — that word our government despises," the blurb said.."Donate today to provide some financial relief and support for Tamara and her family while we continue to fight for freedom.".The page also states, "This fundraiser is approved by her Lawyer Keith Wilson, Q.C.".Some potential donors have a bad taste in their mouth following their experiences during the previous fundraising campaigns associated with the Canadian Freedom Convoy, as was evident in comments on Wilson's tweet..In February, Lich set up a spectacularly successful GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign, which raised more than $10 million..GoFundMe soon afterward announced it was freezing the millions raised in support of the Canadian truckers and would instead refund donors in full, citing police reports of violence as the reason behind its decision. These claims have never been substantiated.."The funds from GoFundMe will be used to cover the costs of the convoy, specifically food, fuel, lodging, and other necessary related expenses," the Justice centre for Constitutional Freedoms said at the time..Despite government authorities claiming at the time the vast majority of the funds had been raised by suspect foreign interests, it was later revealed all but $1.2 million was raised by Canadian donors (88%)..The president of GoFundMe, Juan Benitez, told members of Parliament in February that according to the crowdfunding platform's records, the vast majority of the donors to the Freedom Convoy were actually Canadian..The Freedom Convoy raised more than $10 million on the site before the campaign was suspended for allegedly violating the company’s terms of service — approximately $1.2 million came from outside Canada..GoFundMe refunded donors their contributions..Campaign organizers relaunched the fundraiser under GiveSendGo — a crowdfunding platform outside of Canada's jurisdiction — that subsequently raised a similar total..GiveSendGo eventually cancelled the campaign, announcing it had been forced to refund donations after a Canadian court order blocked the distribution to organizers and threatened to seize the cash..The platform ultimately said it was refunding donors because the Canadian government was trying to seize the funds.."The Canadian government has criminalized the receiving of funds from the Canadian trucker campaigns and now are trying to seize the funds to redistribute," GiveSendGo said in statement shared on Twitter. "In order to protect our givers and the intended purpose of their gifts, funds not already transferred to the recipients from the ‘Freedom Trucker Convoy’ campaign will be refunded.".The Western Standard reached out to Lich's lawyer, Keith Wilson, Q.C., for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication..People wishing to donate to the new GiveSendGo campaign should visit their website.
