“What an objectively ridiculous request!” remarked the Center for Political Innovation’s Northeast Regional Captain, Noah Schenck. The fundraising platform GoFundMe asked for the private information of every member of the anti-imperialist activist group.

An initial fundraiser for the group’s annual convention in Chicago was frozen by the website after CPI Director Caleb Maupin launched it. As Noah explained, “When provided with legal documentation supporting the fact that we are a business legally registered in the United States, they asked us to provide the full names, dates of birth, and addresses of every person who might attend such a conference.”

Noah and other CPI activists find this request to be a completely insulting violation of privacy and an act of political censorship. “I think no other organization in this country would be subjected to this level of scrutiny and invasion of privacy. And we at the Center for Political Innovation, of course, respect the privacy of our members and supporters and would never yield to such requests.”

(SEE SCREENSHOTS BELOW)

The Center for Political Innovation has played an important role in American political discourse. Important anti-war voices such as former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter and radio host Garland Nixon have spoken at previous CPI conventions around the country. CPI’s founder and director Caleb Maupin has appeared on the broadcasts of Jimmy Dore and Kim Iverson many times, and almost daily on international TV. CPI members spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Q&A session at the 2024 World Youth Festival in Russia. In March, CPI members blocked the “No Kings” parade in New York City, forming a human chain across Fifth Avenue to protest the organizers’ failure to demand an end to the war against Iran as part of the march’s platform.

The organization is very concerned about raising funds now that GoFundMe has chosen to censor them in a particularly insulting way, hoping to acquire the private information of its hundreds of members—something organizers would never provide unless legally obligated to do so.

“We urgently need to raise funds!” Noah explained in a special video message. The national convention of the Center for Political Innovation is planned for August in Chicago, with a rally called “France Out of Africa!” taking place the day beforehand in downtown Chicago, along with activities throughout the city during the surrounding days.

“We are committed to building a real anti-war movement. We work with Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, leftists—anybody who wants an America where working families come first and we stop waging wars to defend Wall Street profits,” CPI Founder and Director Caleb Maupin explained.

The group is urging people to donate directly at cpiusa.org/donate to help make the convention a success and to plan on joining them in Chicago on August 15 for the convention. Major speakers are currently being lined up.