GoFundMe campaign for anti-mask Organic Store Bowral shut down

GoFundMe has shut down an online fundraiser organised by a Southern Highlands store which made headlines when the owners were arrested in wild scenes for not enforcing Covid regulations.

The owners of the Organic Store in Bowral have had their online fundraising campaign shut down by GoFundMe for allegedly breaching the site’s terms of service.

The GoFundMe campaign entitled “Save Small Businesses; Fight for our Freedoms” was organised by The Organic Store Bowral to raise money for small businesses affected by “illegal” COVID-19 policies enforced by police.

The organisers say the funds would be provided to small businesses in need of legal and financial support after being “harassed” by the “illegal policies” of the government. The fundraiser claims the state government and police are “targeting small businesses and individuals to stifle the voices of those willing to stand up for our freedom”.

The Organic Store started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for small businesses “harassed” by police.

A sign outside The Organic Store.

The Organic Store shared the GoFundMe page on its Instagram account alongside an allegation the government was using the pandemic to control the population.

“Fear is the mode,” it says.

“Tyranny and control is the result.’

A spokeswoman for GoFundMe confirmed the campaign page has been removed and the donors have been refunded. The fundraiser had raised more than $8200 in a day before it was removed.

Although GoFundMe didn’t clarify the specific terms violated by the campaign, the site says there is a prohibition on raising funds “for the legal defence of alleged crimes associated with … intolerance of any kind”.

When contacted for comment, The Organic Store owner Victoria Kleeberg said the fundraiser being shut down hadn’t affected the flood of support from people wanting to help.

The owners of the organic food store being arrested on Thursday July 1. Picture: Instagram

Mrs Kleeberg, who is a former nurse and midwife, told The Bowral News she suspected trolls were involved in the shut down of the GoFundMe page.

“The GoFundMe, someone complained with that and reported that, for whatever reason,” she said.

“We’ve not been given a reason.”

Also affecting the store’s online presence is the alteration of The Organic Store Bowral website. Instead of providing any details about the organic food store, the website now redirects to the NSW Government advice on COVID-19 rules and regulations.

The Organic Store has become a rallying point for those who oppose the government’s imposition of mandatory face masks in the fight against Covid. The store was thrown into the spotlight last Thursday when the owners Victoria Kleeberg, 62, and Mark Kleeberg, 63, and a 43-year-old employee were arrested for allegedly refusing to comply with mandatory mask requirements.

The owners of an organic food store in Bowral have been quite vocal on social media about their anti-mask views. Picture: Instagram

Mrs Kleeberg was charged with two counts of hindering police in the execution of their duty and failing to provide a name and address. She was also directed to attend court for failing to wear a fitted face mask.

Mr Kleeberg was charged with assaulting and resisting an officer during the execution of their duty and inciting resistance against an officer. He was also charged with failure to comply with the prohibition on spitting/coughing on Friday and given a $200 infringement notice for not wearing a mask.

The store employee was ordered to appear in court for failing to wear a face mask on business premises and not providing her name and address.

Mrs Kleeberg and the 43-year-old employee were also charged with refusing to wear face masks when police entered the premises on Saturday and the women allegedly refused to comply with the public health order.

The owners wrote the arrests were “without due cause”, despite their admission they believe masks are “unhygienic” and a sign asking anyone who has received the vaccine in the past two weeks not to enter the store.

The two women were surrounded by supporters as they were arrested by police at the Organic Store on Saturday. Picture: Instagram

Footage of the arrest on Thursday was widely shared on social media, sparking a debate about the police role in enforcing public health orders.

Critics say the police were “heavy-handed” in their response to the shop owners’ decision not to wear masks. Sky News host Rita Panahi told her viewers the police reaction “undermines public trust in law enforcement”.

However, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said the Southern Highlands police took “suitable action”.

“(T)he excuse for not wearing a mask was simply that they had no belief in the wearing of masks or the order and they had no intention at all in complying with the order. It’s not on,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said police had been alerted to the breaches by concerned community members.

Both owners of the Organic Store and their employee will appear in Moss Vale Local Court in early August.