Jon Ritzheimer, the man who organized an anti-Muslim protest rally and “draw Muhammad” cartoon contest on Friday in Phoenix, reportedly launched a GoFundMe page to raise $10 million to “protect his family.”
KPNX television reporter Brahm Resnik tweeted on Sunday that Ritzheimer had set up a GoFundMe page to raise $10 million to “protect his family or run against” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Guy who incited anti-Islam rally wants $10 million to protect family or run against @SenJohnMcCain. http://t.co/oIf9hNYzwn #PHXMosque
— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) June 1, 2015
Ritzheimer linked to the fundraising site on Sunday in a Facebook post:
On Monday, Resnik tweeted that the page had been removed.
UPDATE Page taken down overnight >> Guy who incited anti-Islam rally wants $10 million to protect family or run against @SenJohnMcCain.
— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) June 1, 2015
Ritzheimer confirmed that his page was “under review” on Monday.
And clicking on the Facebook link to the page displayed this message:
A spokesperson from GoFundMe.com told TPM in an email Monday that “due to privacy concerns, I am only able to discuss the details of campaigns with the organizer.”
Ritzheimer said he organized the protest in response to a similar cartoon contest in Garland, Texas that was interrupted by two alleged Islamic State sympathizers who were killed by a security guard while trying to attack the contest.
His rally was held outside a mosque that at least one of the attackers had reportedly attended in Phoenix.
Ritzheimer told television station KSAZ on Friday that he was going into hiding after the rally, which drew hundreds of people, including many who opposed him.
“I’m having to sell my house,” Ritzheimer told the station. “My family’s been threatened, so they’re in hiding right now. I’m having to go into hiding after this because they’re calling for lone wolves to come and behead me.”
Watch the video below, from LiveLeaks:
However, on Facebook, Ritzheimer said in a Saturday post that he would not run and hide but would “hunker down” in his “fighting hole” and “stick it out!”
Driving in the middle of the quiet desert with a clear mind. Writing key notes for my next big announcement. I’ve decided that if I die, it will be as a free man, and not as a coward. You will not find me in a hole like we found Saddam Hussein. I’m going to keep living free but keep my protection close and near. I’m a Marine and we don’t run and hide. We hunker down in our fighting hole and we stick it out! I have a heightened sense of things out here when I’m alone. And I have more PEACEFUL ideas that I want to see take place across America.
