Support for Tahj

Tahj Eddington is many things to my family and me: a former student, a former classmate, the brother of a former classmate amongst other things.

On the night of August 18, Tahj suffered an epileptic seizure while driving for a ride share company and crashed into a building with his passenger in the car. Providence Police arrived at the scene and the startling police body cam footage shows their interactions with Tahj and his passenger from that point forward. The manner in which the several Providence Police officers handled him upon learning his crash was the result of an epileptic seizure, as recounted by his passenger, is heartbreaking and upsetting beyond words.

In spite of Tahj’s medical condition and incoherence, he did not receive emergency medical attention at the scene of the accident. Tahj was physically restrained, arrested and charged with multiple crimes by the Providence officers. He awoke later in Rhode Island Hospital, still handcuffed, and suffering from injuries that he sustained. The charges are still pending, even after medical confirmation of his seizure.

Not only does Tahj need this support because of the resulting financial hardship he finds himself experiencing – between unanticipated medical expenses and temporarily shutting down his personal training business – but he needs us to rally around him as he heals and attempts to rebuild from this traumatic and grossly unjust event. He deserves for his community to show up and I’m hoping we do just that.

Please show your support any way that you can.