Billionaire investor Bill Ackman posted 1 on GoFundMe raising money to throw a party after fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill staged a protest with American flags on campus. Donated $1,000.
That moment occurred Tuesday when pro-Palestinian supporters replaced the American flag with the Palestinian flag on campus. At that moment, skirmishes with opponents broke out.
Images of the Pi Kappa Pi brothers holding up American flags as activists threw objects at them went viral. The image moved many people online, with John Noonan writing, “Pi Kappa Pi men defended the flag. Throw in the rager.”
The original goal was $15,000, but in less than two days, organizers had raised more than $400,000 for the group. Mr. Ackman is one of the most important contributors.
Ackman became deeply involved in the issue after December’s House hearing on anti-Semitism on campus, and has been vocal about his regrets over pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Ackman campaigned for Claudine Gay’s ouster after former Harvard University president Claudine Gay said at a hearing that whether calls for the extermination of Jews could be considered harassment depends on the circumstances. , canceled donations to the university.
The Hill has reached out to Ackman for comment.
“The Go Fund worked closely with us to ensure that your donations were made the way God intended. We sent members of our team to show them fireworks so big that the faces of the Oakley aviators were blown off. ,” Noonan said in the GoFundMe campaign.
The fraternity told the News & Observer that it did not know who the organizers were, but assured GoFundMe that the funds would be held until it can confirm they will go to their intended recipients.
The Hill has reached out to Noonan, GoFundMe and the fraternity for comment.
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