A fundraising effort to help a black business owner and former firefighter in Minneapolis has surpassed $1 million, including with help from staffers for President Trump’s reelection campaign.
On Thursday, rioters in the city destroyed Korboi Balla’s sports bar, which he had planned to have opened earlier this year, but was prevented from doing so due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to local media reports.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Balla told CBS News after his business was looted and destroyed last week. “It hurts, man. It’s not fair. It’s not right. We’ve been working so hard for this place. It’s not just for me. It’s for my family.”
In a moment of desperation, Balla started a GoFundMe page in an attempt to reopen his business. Total donations have topped more than $1 million as of Tuesday afternoon. At least two dozen staffers for Trump’s reelection campaign, including campaign manager Brad Parscale, have also contributed to the effort, according to Fox News.
“This has been such an eye opening experience,” Balla said in a recent update on the page. “The world has pourd into me and my family to support our business. At the same time being a resident of Minnesota and member of the community we have to do our part. It has been remarkable that even through our greif we have found ways to comfort and support each other.”
