Help Larissa Catch a Break After Protest Arrest & Illness

I want to tell you about Larissa.

I met her in a holding cell after we were both arrested at a peaceful protest. We were in there for almost 24 hours with a group of incredible women, and during that time, we laughed, cried, and supported each other in a way that only happens when everything else has been stripped away.

When the room quieted and it was just four of us, Larissa let herself be vulnerable. She started to cry. And then she told us her story.

Larissa had been at the protest with her 14-year-old daughter. Like so many of us, they were caught in the kettling and arrested while trying to leave. Her daughter was separated from her and taken to a juvenile facility. Larissa had no idea where she was, how she was doing, or even who she was with.

She also has three other children at home—and a dog who depends on her too. No way to contact them. No way to know if they were safe. No access to a phone. Nothing.

She was at that protest for a reason: the father of her children is currently being held in an ICE detention center. She was trying to show up for him and others like him—and because of her arrest, she missed his court date. That could have major consequences for his case, and it’s something she now has to live with, simply because she was out there trying to fight for her family.

To make things worse, Larissa has lupus. Just a few weeks earlier, she was hospitalized and ended up staying for two weeks—two weeks without income. She takes nine medications, none of which were provided while she was in custody. They couldn’t find her medical records and honestly didn’t care. It wasn’t a long enough stay to trigger real medical attention.

And the kicker? The day after the protest was her rent deadline. She needed $800 or she’d face eviction. But she couldn’t send a text. Couldn’t make a call. Couldn’t do anything about it.

After she was released, I asked folks to send her funds directly through CashApp—and some of you did. That helped her get by for a little while. But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Larissa and her children have now been removed from their weekly rental because she was behind on that same $800. She can’t return until we catch her up.

Right now, Larissa is unhoused. She’s trying to care for her kids and her dog with no stable shelter, no access to her medications, and no way to store her belongings.

That’s why I’m asking for more.

We’re trying to raise $7,200—enough to cover that $800 in back rent plus 4 months of housing stability so she can get back on her feet. That’s $400/week for 16 weeks. A safe place to stay while she continues to heal, care for her kids (and her dog), and look for work.

This is a woman with a strong professional background who’s been knocked down again and again—and still shows up. She didn’t ask for help. She apologized for crying. But I asked if I could share her story, and she said yes.

We’re raising the funds in my name, and I’ll make sure Larissa gets every single dollar in a way she can access. She knows this fundraiser is happening and will see exactly what’s raised. The money will go toward rent, medication, and keeping her and her kids housed during this incredibly hard time.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

In addition to financial donations, Larissa is in need of:

A truck or help with transportation

Short-term storage for her belongings

Basic supplies: laundry detergent, toiletries, cleaning products, grocery store gift cards

If you’d like to coordinate an in-kind donation, please reach out to me.

Let’s do what we can. Let’s help her catch a break.