Co-founder 'not proud' to host fundraiser for alleged track meet murder suspect, says some donors are 'wrong'
Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old high school student, is at the center of a controversial fundraiser hosted by the platform GiveSendGo, following his alleged involvement in the murder of fellow student Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Texas. Despite Anthony's admission of the act, claiming self-defense, the fundraiser has amassed over $514,000 for his legal defense, sparking debates around its ethical implications. GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells expressed discomfort with the campaign, emphasizing the platform's commitment to free speech and noting some donors' motivations as potentially divisive and racially charged. Wells compared the situation to past fundraising efforts for Kyle Rittenhouse, acknowledging similar public backlash and threats. Meanwhile, the Metcalf family has faced additional trauma, including swatting incidents, as tensions escalate around the case's handling and racial undertones.
Karmelo Anthony, a suspect in the murder of Austin Metcalf, has generated a contentious fundraiser on GiveSendGo, collecting over $514,000 for legal expenses despite Anthony's admission of the act under a self-defense claim.
Jacob Wells, co-founder of GiveSendGo, acknowledged his lack of pride in hosting the fundraiser, while also emphasizing the platform's principles of free speech and its history of hosting similar controversial campaigns, such as for Kyle Rittenhouse.
The fundraiser's notoriety has been fueled by racial and political tensions, with Wells pointing out that some donors are motivated by divisive racial narratives, which he considers inappropriate reasons for supporting the campaign.
The situation has drawn parallels to other high-profile cases involving race and self-defense claims, further stirring public debate and leading to threats against Wells and his team.
The victim's family, the Metcalfs, has also been targeted through swatting incidents, adding to their distress and leading Jeff Metcalf to urge against politicizing the tragedy, framing it as a human issue rather than a racial or political one.