The organization that brought the Baby Trump to Tuscaloosa is calling on GoFundMe to shut down a fundraiser that has netted more than $45,000 for the man who destroyed the balloon.

“If people can use GoFundMe to finance acts of hate and violence, the company will set a dangerous precedent, and the risk of copycat crimes will put peaceful protesters in harm’s way,” said Goutam Jois, attorney for People’s Motorcade, the organization that manages the Baby Trump tour.

A 20-foot tall Baby Trump balloon was in Tuscaloosa last Saturday ahead of the Alabama/LSU game and a presidential visit by Donald Trump. Hoyt Hutchinson of Northport was arrested after he stabbed the balloon and now faces first degree criminal mischief charges in connection to the slashing. On Monday, Hutchinson went on an Alabama radio show to discuss his motivation.

“It comes a point when you gotta take a stand. We don’t have two parties anymore. We have good vs. evil. When you got one party that says it’s OK to kill babies and by the way, this is the first time I’m ever seen a liberal get mad about chopping up a baby,” he said.

James Girvan, founder of the People’s Motorcade had pointed words for the Hutchinson.

“Last week’s attack proved that Donald Trump’s defenders are just as thin-skinned as the president. A man was so upset about a balloon that he donned a disguise, got a razor blade, and slashed a balloon. His intolerance undermines free speech, and to make matters worse, even though he has been charged with and admitted to first-degree criminal mischief, GoFundMe is allowing him to make nearly $50,000 from his crime, in violation of its own terms of service,” Girvan said.

GoFundMe established

Shortly after his arrest, Hutchinson established a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees and, if any is left over, for Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign. After the fund was established, Hutchinson wrote that it was being shut down by GoFundMe, but the fundraising site later confirmed to AL.com that it was an active campaign.

As of Thursday morning, the fundraiser has collected more than $47,000 from 2,000 donors.

In a letter to GoFundMe, Jois said the fundraiser rewards “Hutchinson’s criminal mischief."

“The amount of money Hutchinson raised far exceeds the cost of a single balloon,” the attorney wrote. “Hutchinson can literally profit from his crime.

“I strongly urge GoFundMe to reconsider its decision to permit Mr. Hutchinson to profit from his admitted crime.”

GoFundMe’s terms of service prohibit fundraising campaigns “to be for the legal defense of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity, serious disabilities or diseases, or financial crimes or crimes of deception.”

Another fund raising campaign – this one by a New Jersey woman who pledged to destroy a Baby Trump balloon – was shut down by the company.

Concerns about future violence

In its letter, the People’s Motorcade said organizers have received hate mail and death threats for the past year. They are concerned the balloon stabbing could inspire others.

“We are fortunate that no one was injured in Hutchinson’s attack, but if there is a copycat crime at the next event, we may not be so lucky,” Jois wrote. “Surely GoFundMe does not want to incentivize that kind of behavior.”

Fundraising for Baby Trump

Meanwhile, The People’s Motorcade is conducting fundraising of its own.

Girvan said the Baby Trump balloon is committed to attending both the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions and will continue its nationwide tour. People can contribute to the cause here.