ST. LOUIS — Donors have given nearly $700,000 to online fundraising sites set up to collect money for the family of a black 18-year-old and the white police officer who fatally shot him in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The Michael Brown Memorial Fund has raised almost $280,000 from more than 9,300 people in 13 days.
The money collected for the Brown family is meant to defray funeral, burial, travel and living expenses “as they seek justice on Michael’s behalf.” None of the donations will go toward the family’s legal fees, the Web page says.
Public rallies in support of police officer Darren Wilson have been far smaller than the street demonstrations to protest Brown’s death. But the contributions on the officer’s behalf have eclipsed the online donations to the Browns.
Two sites supporting Wilson have taken in nearly $410,000 from nearly 10,000 contributors.
The donations have come through the site , which allows donors to identify themselves. Many contributors to the Browns give their name. Wilson’s backers largely have stayed secret.
