Canada's Anti-Vaccine Truck Protest Has Raised $7.7 Million Via GoFundMe

A GoFundMe page created to support an anti-vaccine truck protest in Canada raised more than US$7 million.

The GoFundMe page was launched by members of the country’s “Freedom Convoy,” a group protesting against the Canadian government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The protests gained steam over the past few days after the current administration, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, required truckers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when entering Canada.

“We are taking our fight to the doorsteps of our Federal Government and demanding that they cease all mandates against its people. Small businesses are being destroyed, homes are being destroyed, and people are being mistreated and denied fundamental necessities to survive. It's our duty as Canadians to put an end to these mandates,” a statement on the GoFundMe page read.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the page earned CAD$9,862,960 (USD$ 7,777,071) of its CAD$10 million goal. The money will be used to cover the cost of fueling the trucks used in the protests, as well as pay for any food or shelter needed by truckers, according to the statement.

The GoFundMe page is continuing to gain steam even as many denounce the behavior of the anti-vaccine protesters. Since Friday, big-rig trucks and other vehicles have blocked key roads in central Ottawa, blaring their horns at all hours.

Some truckers joining the protests also urinated and parked on the National War Memorial. One trucker danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the most iconic memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Some defaced the statue of Terry Fox, a Canadian hero, after using it to display anti-vaccine statements. The protesters were also accused of harassing volunteers who worked at a soup kitchen for the homeless.

Police are now investigating whether they could press criminal charges on truckers who showed “threatening” and “illegal” behavior during the protests.

Meanwhile, Trudeau slammed the Ottawa protesters, calling them a “fringe minority” who reflected the proliferation of “misinformation and conspiracy theorists.” He also issued a stern warning against truckers who vandalized the memory of Canadian veterans.

“I want to be very clear: We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small-business workers and steal food from the homeless,” Trudeau said. “We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans.”