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Staff Writer

UNC American flag ‘rager’ thanks Bill Ackman for the $10k



Flag incident: Pro-Palestinian supporters replaced an American flag with a Palestinian flag, leading to a tense situation with counterprotesters. Fraternity members (Pi Kappa Phi) held up the American flag.

GoFundMe for party:  John Noonan started a GoFundMe to throw a party for the fraternity members, capitalizing on a viral image of them holding the flag. It raised far more than the initial goal ($15,000) with over $400,000 collected.


Bill Ackman's donation: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, known for his opposition to pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, donated $10,000 to the GoFundMe.


Unclear beneficiary: The fraternity claims they don't know the organizer and GoFundMe is holding the funds until they can confirm it goes to the intended recipients.


A tense situation arose at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when a Palestinian flag replaced an American flag, sparking a confrontation between pro-Palestinian supporters and counterprotesters. A viral image captured members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity holding the American flag amidst the tension. Capitalizing on this image, an independent fundraiser titled "Pi Kappa Phi Men Defended Their Flag. Throw ‘em a Rager" was launched on GoFundMe. Notably, billionaire investor Bill Ackman, known for his opposition to some campus protests involving Israel-Palestine, donated $10,000 to the campaign.


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