Justice for Jimmy: Fighting Systemic Racism in Switzerland

Jimmy’s death was a tragic and preventable consequence of systemic racism in Switzerland’s healthcare system. His mother is certain of it.

Jimmy was a mixed-race man, half Black and half white, who lived with an undiagnosed medical condition for over twenty-two years. His illness caused sudden, unpredictable episodes of excruciating pain. When his symptoms first appeared, doctors in Switzerland initially took him seriously. But as time went on and they failed to identify a cause, their attitude changed. Rather than continuing to search for answers, they began to dismiss his suffering as psychological.

Again and again, Jimmy sought help. Yet hospitals routinely turned him away or redirected him to psychiatric institutions. This happened for over two decades. As his mother put it: “They treated him like sh*t."

Now, at just forty-one years old, Jimmy is gone.

Although the detective initially told his family that his death was natural, the forensic doctor said it was too early to make a precise determination. We believe Jimmy’s death demands further investigation, and a second autopsy may be necessary to uncover the truth. This is especially important considering that two Black men recently died in police custody under suspicious circumstances in the same city where Jimmy lived.

We are raising funds to hire a skilled and principled lawyer who can investigate possible medical negligence and help hold those responsible accountable. Forty-one-year-old men do not just die without reason. Something was wrong. Jimmy knew it. His mother knew it. And now, we need your help to bring the truth to light.

Your support will help Jimmy’s family seek justice and ensure that his story is heard. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable. Please help us honor Jimmy’s memory and fight for change.

*To protect his family’s privacy during this difficult time, we are only using his first name.