A CAMPAIGN set up to fund the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border has raised over $10 million in the space of just a few short days – but it’s facing competition.
The GoFundMe campaign We the People Will Fund the Wall was set up by Brian Kolfage, a Purple Heart Recipient triple amputee veteran.
"The government has accepted large private donations before, most recently a billionaire donated $7.5 Million to fund half of the Washington Monument repairs in 2012; this is no different.,” Kolfage says.
"Like a majority of those American citizens who voted to elect President Donald J Trump, we voted for him to Make America Great Again. President Trump’s main campaign promise was to BUILD THE WALL. And as he’s followed through on just about every promise so far, this wall project needs to be completed still.
"As a veteran who has given so much, 3 limbs, I feel deeply invested to this nation to ensure future generations have everything we have today. Too many Americans have been murdered by illegal aliens and too many illegals are taking advantage of the United States taxpayers with no means of ever contributing to our society.
"I have grandparents who immigrated to America legally, they did it the correct way and it's time we uphold our laws, and get this wall BUILT! It’s up to Americans to help out and pitch in to get this project rolling."
Kolfage has set a target of just over $1 billion for the project with the campaign amassing donations in excess of $10 million at the time of writing.
In response, another fundraising page Ladders to Get Over Trump's Wall has been set up by Charlotte Clymer.
“We saw some folks are raising money for a border wall to keep out our migrant siblings and fellow human beings, who are fleeing violence and persecution and whose tragically-underpaid labor is essential to the U.S. economy. Seems like a bad idea on countless levels for everyone involved,” Clymer writes,
“Maybe we should focus on human rights and creating a community that reflects our supposed values.
“And even though at a rate of $1.7 million daily, it would take their fund about 35 years to raise the $21.7 billion that Trump's own Dept. of Homeland Security says would be needed to build said wall, we wanna make sure ladders are ready to send over to our undocumented friends and help them.
"If this seems ludicrous, we welcome you to the coalition of reasonable adults.
"Should we not reach our goal--or should they (ahem) not reach theirs--all funds raised will go to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) , a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees.
"You see, they’ll never reach their goal, but no matter how much we raise, we’re going to reach ours."
Ladders to Get Over Trump’s Wall has so far raised over $70,000 in the space of a day.
See More: Donald Trump, GoFundMe
