The biggest single contribution to the convoy protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates came from a well-known businessman in London, Ont. He believes the government’s response to the protest movement has gone too far.
Leaked data from the crowdfunding site Give Send Go reveals that Holden Rhodes and his wife, Carey, donated $25,000 US, making it the largest donation from Ontario. Another donor made two donations of $20,000 US each.
Rhodes has strong connections in London’s business community. A graduate of Western University, he worked in corporate law at Mc Kenzie Lake for over 17 years and sold his tech company Car Proof for $650 million US in 2015.
He owns Killarney Mountain Lodge, a resort located on Georgian Bay’s north shore.
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Government Overreach Is “Astounding”
In an email to , Rhodes confirmed his donation and stated that he supports the convoy movement because he feels the government is exceeding its authority in dealing with the protests. “The overreach on the last two years has been astounding, but in the last two weeks in Canada it has been absolutely alarming for anyone who believes in a peaceful and free society,” he said. “Government at all levels has to realize they are elected to represent the people of Canada rather than lock up and threaten to arrest people for exercising their legal rights of peaceful protest.” Rhodes decided to share his letter because once news of his donation went public, he received more media inquiries than he could handle. The convoy, known among supporters as a Freedom Convoy, started in January when a large group of transport trucks traveled east across Canada to protest vaccine mandates and other measures aimed at controlling COVID-19’s spread-responsible for over 35,000 deaths in Canada. Since reaching Ottawa on January 29, the convoy has filled downtown Ottawa with parked transport trucks. Residents have expressed concerns that these activities are disrupting their daily lives. On Tuesday, as frustration mounted over police’s inability to restore order near Parliament Hill, the city’s police chief resigned. Similar protests occurred throughout Canada and sometimes blocked border crossings into the U. S. A portion of Rhodes’s letter discusses how police and government officials have reacted to the convoy’s presence in Ottawa. “I am not prepared to accept a country without freedom for my family, my children, my friends, my neighbours and every other Canadian,” he wrote. “That is why I am doing what I am doing.” Apart from Rhodes’s contribution, southwestern Ontario contributed significantly through online donations toward supporting the convoy protest based on an analysis of leaked data from Give Send Go. Charter rights will be protected while banks freeze accounts linked to convoy protests says Public Safety MinisterPublic Safety Minister Marco Mendicino mentioned that it’s up to law enforcement agencies “to look for evidence and information that connects an individual to the illegal blockade” happening in Ottawa.Donations From Nearby Areas
The data released Sunday night shows names along with email addresses and postal codes associated with 92,844 contributions made towards this campaign. The information has been reviewed but cannot be independently verified by.
CBC News analyzed where donors claimed they were located using only their postal codes’ first three characters. Besides Rhodes’s generous $25K donation from London area donors also contributed significantly:
Areas with postal codes starting with “N0J”, covering parts of Oxford County generated 82 donations totaling $17,486. Areas beginning with “N0M”, which includes large parts Middlesex County & Huron County along Lake Huron saw 105 donations amounting to $13,338. North London areas starting with “N6G” contributed 40 donations summing up over $29K-a figure heavily influenced by Rhodes’ donation. The area represented by postal code prefix N0E which covers parts Brant & Norfolk counties resulted in 81 donations totaling just above $9K. Alongside Rhodes’ contribution reached out directly connecting various top funders among those local areas Joe Wecker hailing Chatham shared that he’d donated $1K intending “to support a peaceful protest against vaccine mandates.” The total raised via Give Send Go exceeded more than $8 million US prior shutting down due hackers however early Tuesday morning service resumed operations again! This hacked info unveiled interesting stats revealing around 55% percent originating globally mainly came straight USA while nearly forty percent identified belonging within Canadian borders themselves! Edit note: Updated story limited identifying details further safeguarding privacy involved parties here!Source link








