The six Baltimore police officers charged in connection to the death of Freddie Gray won't be getting GoFundMe's support.
The crowdfunding site suspended an account started by the Baltimore Police Union, which attempted to raise money for the officers' legal defense.
In a press conference on Friday, Baltimore's top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against all six officers involved in Gray's arrest. They included included false imprisonment, assault and involuntary manslaughter.
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GoFundMe pulled the police union's donation campaign within 40 minutes of its launch, according to Gawker. GoFundMe spokesperson Kelsea Little issued a statement on Saturday, explaining that the campaign violated GoFundMe's terms.
GoFundMe cannot be used to benefit those who are charged with serious violations of the law. 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. Specifically, 'campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts' are not permitted on GoFundMe.
In response, the Baltimore Police Union asked supporters to mail donations to a specific address, posted on its official Twitter account.
(1/2) THANK YOU for your generous support. We are working to set up a donation point directly on our website. Until then please send to:— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) May 2, 2015
(2/2) Baltimore City FOP, Lodge #3 3920 Buena Vista Avenue Baltimore, MD 21211— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) May 2, 2015
This isn't the first time GoFundMe has been used to raise money for police officers in high-profile cases. A campaign to support Darren Wilson, the former Ferguson police officer who fatally shot black teenager Michael Brown, received more than $200,000.
A similar page was made for Michael T. Slager, the South Carolina police officer who was charged with murder in the shooting death of unarmed black man Walter Scott. GoFundMe immediately rejected that campaign.
GoFundMe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.