Hate Groups Fundraising Off Capitol Hill Riot Are Cashing In

Here's a sobering thought; U,S-based hate groups have had access to at least 54 means of raising money online, including crowdfunding and online payment tools.

As of last week, 10 people accused in the Capitol riot were fundraising for legal fees on GiveSendGo, according to a USA TODAY analysis.

CNN reported that the website GiveSendGo, which bills itself as the" #1 free Christian crowdfunding site, became a refuge for insurrectionists hoping to raise cash.

Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a protest against police brutality was featured on GiveSendGo.

Despite a crackdown on hate groups by tech companies using popular payment processors and an expanding network of fundraising platforms, has been a hit-and-miss affair.

It's like playing "whack-a-mole." One website (or crowd funder) kicks off a bad actor, and they show up on another one almost immediately.

One of the eight fundraisers last week, AllFunIt, reportedly raised 180,000 for Brandon Straka, a supporter of Trump who was arrested for his involvement in the insurrection. 

AllFundIt was created last fall by a "Christian conservative alternative to GoFundMe." The platform encourages those associated with the Capitol riot to raise money.

As long as these hate groups can bounce from one platform to another they're going to thrive.

Until big tech unilaterally decides to get really serious about the problem, hate groups are going to multiple in the days, months, and years ahead.