Crowdfunding and extortionate costs

[Honestopinion23]

I know that it's a travesty that women are having to bring these cases etc etc but I've just seen one GC feminist whose crowdfunding target is now £400,000, on top of a previous figure of £150k already raised. There are several other ones also asking for extremely high figures. I am just shocked that the costs could be so high (over half a million), even if the hearing is a lengthy one, and I worry that now cost of living is escalating that ordinary people won't be able to part with large amounts of cash. There's also something in me that says why should they have to. I know, I know, there is no obligation to donate but it makes me feel guilty reading the requests for funding. And I just feel a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing.
Hopefully JKR will swoop in and fund all of them!

Cheers Op. I just donated to Allison's fund, having done the same for Raquel previously.
I'm rooting for both of them.

My income is really low but I've donated what I can to both instead of spending anything on luxuries until next payday. :)

I could only donate £5 but I have done because this is really, really important. It's also very striking if you see the number of donators against the amount raised - it's thousands of people giving wee amounts (apart from the brilliant person who donated £50k!). Just ordinary people, giving what they can afford. I find it really inspiring.

Daley Thompson has donated and tweeted about Allison's site.

So much for all that funding we’re meant to be getting from the religious right & the Kremlin & the Evil Empire….

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to women like Allison, Raquel, Maya and many others. They are personally liable for these extortionate amounts, and yet have decided to face powerful and underhanded institutions and organisations because they realise their cases will affect all women. I don't know if I would have had the courage to do the same if I was put in such a position.

To use Allison's phrase, these women are placing their trust in us - the public, as an act of faith. Times are getting tough for many, but for those of us who are able to spare a bit of money, I hope we can continue to show them that we have their back.

As mentioned by other posters, the real issue is big players like Stonewall, universities etc being able to bully and intimidate claimants via legal fees. It pisses me off that these orgs use public funding for their dirty tactics, and the current legal system allows them to get away with it.

We have to win. We must. I was at the prisons protest in Scotland yesterday and it was upsetting and enraging to hear the experience of some women who had been imprisoned and knew of males in the women's prisons.

However long it takes and however much it costs, I will do what I can to help put an end to this disgusting ideology that has spread and infected public and private organisations around the world. At least here in the UK, we still have a relatively decent judicial system. I am so upset by the impact this ideology will have on women in countries that are less able or willing to protect them.

Nonny, just as an aside, I couldn't make the prisons protest but it looked amazing - what a fantastic turn - out and how brave of women to talk about their experiences of prison. The signs in particular were absolutely epic!

I also had to laugh at one of the chants - 'get yer boaby oot oor lobby!'

it is an aim of many of the groups that defend these cases to outspend the claimant.

This. When AB first started her case I was surprised someone of means, who knew the system, felt the need to crowdfund for what seemed like an open and shut case.

My god I was wrong- SW and GCC have gone all out to stop her. I suspect they have already spent way more than if they'd just settled. I can't see GCC would want to piss away money like that so presumably it's funded by stonewall.

I don’t know why the snarky undertone

Because there is a constant stream of threads by people with no posting history trying to defame various GC feminists to to claim feminism is harmful.

People get tired of it and are automatically suspicious of anyone who's first post on FWR is like yours.

Not saying you've done anything wrong, merely that a certain level of scepticism is normal.

@Waitwhat23

Nonny, just as an aside, I couldn't make the prisons protest but it looked amazing - what a fantastic turn - out and how brave of women to talk about their experiences of prison. The signs in particular were absolutely epic!

I also had to laugh at one of the chants - 'get yer boaby oot oor lobby!'

The banners were gorgeous!

I also had to laugh at one of the chants - 'get yer boaby oot oor lobby!'

I don't know who came up with that but I couldn't join in as it kept making me laugh.

I can't see GCC would want to piss away money like that so presumably it's funded by stonewall.

Stonewall get a large proportion of their money from taxpayer funded govt departments, quangos, the police etc. So if you have donated too, well done! You have funded both sides!

It was heartening to see many more donors to Allisons fund are using their full name

Raquel I’ve donated again, I will forever associate Bristol university’s name with their shameful treatment of you

Will definitely be donating again to Allison and Raquel, yes the costs are massive but these cases are so important.

Is there a central list of current cases going on, just to keep track for digging purposes, I'd say there are a few people are being forgotten at this stage.

I need to review and update it, but there's a list here
womenspeakscotland.com/legal-crowdfunding/

@RaquelRosarioSanchez

Yes, you're right. Repeatedly raising the costs is a punishment.

Someone upthread mentioned making regular donations. I would be happy and able to do this, but can't bung in the large sum now that I would like to.

When do your fees need to be paid in full?

@NonnyMouse1337 thanks for that list.

So many crowd funders. So many people giving a tenner here, a fiver there.

Raquel, Allison, Kiera, Maya, Sonia and others truly do fight on behalf of us all.

NonnyMouse1337

Katie Alcocks case against Girl Guiding needs to be added to that list. I think this is an important case wrt safeguarding generally and raises the lack of protection for volunteer whistleblowers

I'm trying to add to Raquel again, haven't been able to all weekend. Any tips? It looks like it's worked for other people.

@Yipja
I just googled “Rachel Rosario Sanchez crowdjustice” and the link came up. Big orange button ‘pledge now’ and followed the link.

@Yipja

I'm trying to add to Raquel again, haven't been able to all weekend. Any tips? It looks like it's worked for other people.

Could you possibly be looking at the old one? Raquel had to set up a new page when her solicitor moved firms.

The old one is titled ''Bullying and harassment permitted...

The new one is titled ''Bullying and harassment enabled...

Thanks M of Ld but that's the way I've been doing it. I've tried with the optional donation and without, and I've donated before with the same card.

Ah ha I will try that thank you Yourhair

Nope no luck again. It takes it as far as the LEGL. and my bank but registers 0.00. I've used a different browser, a different card.
I will contact them tomorrow.

Yipja, it did the same thing when I donated, said £0.00 but it did take the money out of my account the next day.

Oh well that might be a few multiples then. Thanks for the info.
I'm glad they aren't deliberately messing with her after the Alison Bailey shenanigans they pulled.