Donations spike for Ford after she testifies in front of Senate, rallies held in Palo Alto

Donations for a Palo Alto professor who has brought sexual assault allegations against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have spiked since she gave her testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning. 

One GoFundMe page for Christine Blasey Ford, which originally had a goal of $175,000, has now collected over $440,000 in donations. 

The page only had $175,000 in donations as of this morning, according to GoFundMe spokeswoman Katherine Cichy. The fundraiser aims to cover all costs Ford may incur while proving her allegations.

"To be very clear, we have designated the Ford Family as the beneficiary of these funds. We cannot take the money out or otherwise direct the funds," Cichy said in an email.

Another page created by a Georgetown law professor for Ford's security expenses has stopped accepting donations after it surpassed its goal by about $25,000, Cichy said.

During Ford's lengthy testimony in front of Senate leaders, she mentioned the donation pages as a source of financial support.

Another source of support came in the form of a rally held in her home town of Palo Alto on the same day she testified. Things moved from supporting a cause to a case in civil action to prompt immediate change.

The demonstration was co-sponsored by “Together We Will” and the “Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.” For about 90 minutes, around 100 people spoke, sang, and marched around Palo Alto City Hall.

“We are at an inflection point in this country,” said former journalist Michelle Gouldsberry, who attended the rally. “We need to demand justice and truth. We need to seek truth. And we need to follow it where ever it takes us.”

While their main goal is to influence both Washington, and then the rest of the country, the side target of what they believe is offensive signage moved into the cross hairs.

The offending sign's last sentence reads: "Nice butt..." It's at Dan Gordon's restaurant and many see the sign as a shot against Ford and her Senate testimony. 

“It’s been up for months, actually a year. Actually I’ve only gotten compliments,” said John Cefalu, a bartender at Dan Gordon’s restaurant, as he debated with the demonstrators standing on the sidewalk directly outside the restaurant.

But on this day, the nay vote overwhelmed everything else. Another employee removed the letters, lowering the rising rhetoric.

“Body parts are body parts. And that’s not the way to be looking at whether somebody is a good human being,” said one demonstrator.

With the sign issue resolved, the demonstrators returned to City Hall grounds after making their midday left turn from Romona Street onto Hamilton Avenue. But their point has been made – even the simplest things garner closer scrutiny in a country struggling over issues of power and sexism. 

This may not be the last rally for Dr. Ford. The people that were here earlier said they hope to have a block party when she returns to Palo Alto.

Gofundme for Christine Blasey Ford

Bay City News contributed to this report