Support Charles Thomas' family
Donation protected
In April of 2018, just a couple months before he was set to graduate from the University of Chicago with a degree in history and travel the world, my friend Charles Thomas suffered a very public psychotic break. At the height of his psychosis a campus police officer confronted him at gunpoint and shot him in the shoulder.
Though he made a swift physical recovery, the legal consequences of that night continue to drag on. While recovering in the hospital, he was charged with 8 felonies and once discharged was immediately placed on house arrest. A month ago he suffered another psychotic episode and went missing for two weeks. To everyone’s enormous relief, he was found alive and unharmed. However, because of this violation of the terms of his house arrest, the court has revoked his bond and placed him in custody in Cook County Jail until his case is resolved.
Since the initial incident, Charles’ parents have been nothing short of heroic—taking months off work to live with him during the first six months of his house arrest, flying out from LA to every court date, and supporting him financially because his situation made it impossible for him to work to support himself. Kathy and Wendell were never in a position to afford the enormous costs associated with Charles’ situation, and as a result this support has put a huge strain on their finances.
They currently plan to trade off staying in Chicago in order to visit him at the jail as often as possible and deal with related legal matters. This demonstration of unconditional love has a high financial cost, however—housing, transit, and flights between Chicago and LA are expensive, and become even more difficult to afford when they must take significant amounts of leave from their respective jobs. And most unfortunately, there is no way to know when this will be over.
In the wake of any news coverage about Charles, people often ask how they can help. While protests, direct actions, and letter writing are great, the family’s most immediate and dire need is financial in nature. If you have anything to spare, please consider donating. Every dollar will go towards the costs associated with Kathy and Wendell Thomas’ housing and transit in Chicago, as well as any flights they need to take between LA and Chicago. We deeply appreciate anything you can give to ease this financial burden and ensure that Charles has the love and support he needs nearby.
Though he made a swift physical recovery, the legal consequences of that night continue to drag on. While recovering in the hospital, he was charged with 8 felonies and once discharged was immediately placed on house arrest. A month ago he suffered another psychotic episode and went missing for two weeks. To everyone’s enormous relief, he was found alive and unharmed. However, because of this violation of the terms of his house arrest, the court has revoked his bond and placed him in custody in Cook County Jail until his case is resolved.
Since the initial incident, Charles’ parents have been nothing short of heroic—taking months off work to live with him during the first six months of his house arrest, flying out from LA to every court date, and supporting him financially because his situation made it impossible for him to work to support himself. Kathy and Wendell were never in a position to afford the enormous costs associated with Charles’ situation, and as a result this support has put a huge strain on their finances.
They currently plan to trade off staying in Chicago in order to visit him at the jail as often as possible and deal with related legal matters. This demonstration of unconditional love has a high financial cost, however—housing, transit, and flights between Chicago and LA are expensive, and become even more difficult to afford when they must take significant amounts of leave from their respective jobs. And most unfortunately, there is no way to know when this will be over.
In the wake of any news coverage about Charles, people often ask how they can help. While protests, direct actions, and letter writing are great, the family’s most immediate and dire need is financial in nature. If you have anything to spare, please consider donating. Every dollar will go towards the costs associated with Kathy and Wendell Thomas’ housing and transit in Chicago, as well as any flights they need to take between LA and Chicago. We deeply appreciate anything you can give to ease this financial burden and ensure that Charles has the love and support he needs nearby.
Organizer and beneficiary
Eleanor Carpenter
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
Kathleen Thomas
Beneficiary
