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GoFundMe Smacks Down Conservative Pundit Who Raised Money for Cafe Owner Who Called George Floyd a 'Thug'

GoFundMe Smacks Down Conservative Pundit Who Raised Money for Cafe Owner Who Called George Floyd a 'Thug'
Daniel Pier/NurPhoto via Getty Images; @RealCandaceO/Twitter

Conservative activist and occasional Fox News contributor Candace Owens is crying foul after having her account suspended by GoFundMe for violating the crowd funding platform's terms of service.

Owens claimed to be the victim of discrimination.



However GoFundMe had a different view.

According to a statement from the crowd funding platform:

"GoFundMe has suspended the account associated with Candace Owens and the GoFundMe campaign has been removed because of a repeated pattern of inflammatory statements that spread hate, discrimination, intolerance and falsehoods against the black community at a time of profound national crisis."
"These actions violate our terms of service."
"GoFundMe will work with the Parkside Café's staff to facilitate the transfer of the funds raised on their behalf. It's important to remember that when money is raised on behalf of another individual or organization, the funds are safely held by our payment processor, and only transferred directly to the beneficiary of the campaign."
"In this case, the money is safely held and will only be released to the Parkside Cafe. If a donor would like a refund, we will immediately process that refund request."

Owens' account was suspended while she raised funds for the Parkside Café in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Parkside Café drew backlash after co-owner Michael Dyke's text messages regarding George Floyd were made public.

Dykes texted:

"We should go up one or two dollars on everything until June 10th. Call it a protest tax because all the idiots that went to the protests are responsible for us not being able to open normal hours."
"Any employees that went or are going should resign. Mr. Floyd was a thug, didn't deserve to die but honoring a thug is irresponsible."

Three staff members resigned and the business and Dykes business partner, Robert Bagwell, denounced his comments. Dykes later apologized.

"I'm not a racist. I have many black friends. I have friends from Gambia and other places."

Dykes added:

"Yes, I made a mistake and called Mr. Floyd a thug. I regret that. I really do regret that."
"I am sorry for what I said. I did not mean disrespect to Mr. Floyd, ever."

Dykes said he wrote the texts after watching a Candace Owens' video on Facebook.

Owens decided to begin a fundraiser for the café. It's unclear whether she reached out to the business owners before launching the campaign.

People were less than sympathetic to Owens' plight.






GoFundMe did not indicate in their statement if Owens' suspension was permanent.