Help our friend Humberto
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On Saturday, May 30th, our good friend Berto was seriously injured during a protest in Kansas City, Missouri.
Around Midnight, as the protest on the Country Club Plaza was beginning to wind down, Berto was gathered with the bulk of the remaining protesters on JC Nichols Parkway. Most of the protestors at this point were standing with their hands in the air, or taking a knee in silent protest. Berto was near the front of the line of protesters. As the police began to fire off another volley of tear gas canisters (without warning), many of the protesters began to scatter in different directions. Before he even had a chance to react, Berto was shot at point blank range with a canister directly in the shin. Berto said he immediately realized that he was injured, but as he staggered backward his leg completely gave out. He said he "saw stars" at this point and may have passed out. Nearby protesters immediately picked him up and carried him away to "safety". Once he was further away from the frontline, and could be checked out, it was apparent that he was seriously injured. The bone in his leg was showing, and he was losing a significant amount of blood. Fellow protesters carried him to a nearby hospital.
In another indictment of our society, Berto - in shock and losing blood at a rapid speed - still had the presence of mind to request that he be taken to a different hospital due to the fact that he is a Veteran, and his insurance would not cover him at the hospital he was outside of. At risk of losing his leg and even possibly his life, he still made the 20 minute trek to the Veteran's Hospital in Kansas City. That drive was the most painful experience of his entire life. He was able to maintain consciousness somehow, as he continued to bleed profusely with his lower leg dangling by a thread. I know this, because I drove him there.
Upon arrival at the VA, Berto was placed on a gurney and quickly taken back to be stabilized. He learned at this point that he had a compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula. His leg was completely snapped in half at the shin, and hanging on by tendon and muscle. They were able to temporarily stop the bleeding, and to stabilize his leg. But as the VA is not known for being trauma center, he was shipped to another hospital for surgery. He is scheduled to have that surgery today. They will attempt to reattach his bones with rods and screws. After that, he will remain in the hospital for several days to be monitored while he recovers.
At a protest against police brutality, he was maliciously brutalized by the police simply for exercising his first amendment right to protest. As a result of that brutality, he is facing a long road to recovery - and doubts if he'll ever be able to walk right again.
Now like many of us in the United States, Berto is currently unemployed. His life was already difficult, but he was getting by and he never asked for help or for pity. Now with the added burden of this injury - his life is about to become significantly more difficult - and even more deserving of our help and pity, even if he doesn't ask for it.
That's why today, we are creating this GoFundMe in hope to help alleviate some of that burden that he is going to have to carry. He doesn't even know that I am doing this. As was previously stated, Berto faces a long road to recovery - but if we can help him get through this difficult time, I'm certain he would be forever grateful. He is surely about to face one of the most treacherous stretches of his life, and any and all support is welcome to assist him in getting through it.
The proceeds from this fundraiser will go to helping him cover the insurmountable medical bills he is soon to face, as well as help Berto cover his regular expenses as he navigates the long road to his recovery. Anything helps. I have set the opening amount of this fundraiser at $5000 - what will surely be a tiny fraction of just the medical debt he is about to face. If we meet that goal - we may go for more. Again, anything helps.
I can also be contacted personally if people would like to donate care packages, food, or other items.
Humberto went to a protest last night to shine a light on the grave injustices taking place in this country. And while he was doing was so, an injustice that could have cost him his life was done to him. I know that everyone is struggling right now, and asking for money in these uncertain times is a big ask. But Berto is one of the most selfless and compassionate dudes I know. Through no fault of his own, he now needs our help more than ever.
Please share this post on any platform that you can.
Thank You.
Around Midnight, as the protest on the Country Club Plaza was beginning to wind down, Berto was gathered with the bulk of the remaining protesters on JC Nichols Parkway. Most of the protestors at this point were standing with their hands in the air, or taking a knee in silent protest. Berto was near the front of the line of protesters. As the police began to fire off another volley of tear gas canisters (without warning), many of the protesters began to scatter in different directions. Before he even had a chance to react, Berto was shot at point blank range with a canister directly in the shin. Berto said he immediately realized that he was injured, but as he staggered backward his leg completely gave out. He said he "saw stars" at this point and may have passed out. Nearby protesters immediately picked him up and carried him away to "safety". Once he was further away from the frontline, and could be checked out, it was apparent that he was seriously injured. The bone in his leg was showing, and he was losing a significant amount of blood. Fellow protesters carried him to a nearby hospital.
In another indictment of our society, Berto - in shock and losing blood at a rapid speed - still had the presence of mind to request that he be taken to a different hospital due to the fact that he is a Veteran, and his insurance would not cover him at the hospital he was outside of. At risk of losing his leg and even possibly his life, he still made the 20 minute trek to the Veteran's Hospital in Kansas City. That drive was the most painful experience of his entire life. He was able to maintain consciousness somehow, as he continued to bleed profusely with his lower leg dangling by a thread. I know this, because I drove him there.
Upon arrival at the VA, Berto was placed on a gurney and quickly taken back to be stabilized. He learned at this point that he had a compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula. His leg was completely snapped in half at the shin, and hanging on by tendon and muscle. They were able to temporarily stop the bleeding, and to stabilize his leg. But as the VA is not known for being trauma center, he was shipped to another hospital for surgery. He is scheduled to have that surgery today. They will attempt to reattach his bones with rods and screws. After that, he will remain in the hospital for several days to be monitored while he recovers.
At a protest against police brutality, he was maliciously brutalized by the police simply for exercising his first amendment right to protest. As a result of that brutality, he is facing a long road to recovery - and doubts if he'll ever be able to walk right again.
Now like many of us in the United States, Berto is currently unemployed. His life was already difficult, but he was getting by and he never asked for help or for pity. Now with the added burden of this injury - his life is about to become significantly more difficult - and even more deserving of our help and pity, even if he doesn't ask for it.
That's why today, we are creating this GoFundMe in hope to help alleviate some of that burden that he is going to have to carry. He doesn't even know that I am doing this. As was previously stated, Berto faces a long road to recovery - but if we can help him get through this difficult time, I'm certain he would be forever grateful. He is surely about to face one of the most treacherous stretches of his life, and any and all support is welcome to assist him in getting through it.
The proceeds from this fundraiser will go to helping him cover the insurmountable medical bills he is soon to face, as well as help Berto cover his regular expenses as he navigates the long road to his recovery. Anything helps. I have set the opening amount of this fundraiser at $5000 - what will surely be a tiny fraction of just the medical debt he is about to face. If we meet that goal - we may go for more. Again, anything helps.
I can also be contacted personally if people would like to donate care packages, food, or other items.
Humberto went to a protest last night to shine a light on the grave injustices taking place in this country. And while he was doing was so, an injustice that could have cost him his life was done to him. I know that everyone is struggling right now, and asking for money in these uncertain times is a big ask. But Berto is one of the most selfless and compassionate dudes I know. Through no fault of his own, he now needs our help more than ever.
Please share this post on any platform that you can.
Thank You.
Organizer and beneficiary
Eddie Gartland
Organizer
Kansas City, MO
Humberto Gonzalez
Beneficiary
