Help Needed with Legal Fees!
Donation protected
I am a radio host, a native of Las Vegas, NV, a recent graduate from UNLV with a B.A. in Anthropology, a social activist for over eight years, and former Outreach Coordinator of the UNLV Student Sustainability Council. In the early hours of April 20, 2019, the day before Easter Sunday, I was arrested on an obstruction charge by North Las Vegas police while sitting at a bus stop waiting to ride home from a birthday party I had just left. A police officer violently arrested me and caused several bloody gashes and swelling on multiple places on my face, from which I am still now recovering, two weeks later as of this writing (May 4, 2019). Still today, what had long been normal facial movements for me, such as raising or furrowing my eyebrows, cause me physical pain. I was then transported to the hospital and then to jail, where I spent a single day before being bailed out by my generous and loving family via a bail bonds company to the tune of $2500, which is no small price for a working-class household. Since my release, moral support from my community, friends, fellow activists, and neighbors, has been amazing. But the process of dealing with this, which has not been easy, has just begun. The charge was dismissed four days later and then replaced with a resisting charge the next day, which my attorney is currently in the process of fighting. In order to pay for my legal defense, as well as to reimburse the expenses my parents paid out of pocket to see me released, I am sincerely asking for your help and generosity. A donation of any amount will be helpful in reaching the goal of justice and healing.
The night of April 19, 2019. I was at a birthday party held for two of my friend's family members on the North side of the Las Vegas area. After leaving the birthday party, I purchased some snacks and proceeded to walk to the bus stop at Eastern and Owens Ave.; after sitting down, I had my hand in my backpack while retrieving some snacks when a police vehicle across from me did a U-turn, pulled up to me and an officer exited, stood in front of me, and told me to take my hand out of the bag. I remained still and at the time was unclear as to why I was being stopped, at most I presumed the officer wanted to search my bag. When I asked for an explanation, he only repeated himself without explaining. He did not give an indication that there was any immediate threat. Instead he aggressively threw my head onto the sidewalk. causing bleeding from four open wounds on my face; my forehead, my cheek, my upper lip, and directly above it. It also left a long, deep laceration directly above my eye, and left my lip and eye swollen for days, from which I am still recovering as of this writing (May 4, 2019). I was not anticipating that I would be violently arrested without questioning based on the initial approach and orders of the officer; as such, I was entirely non-aggressive. In short order, the officer then handcuffed me; I was then put in the rear of the vehicle and left to bleed for a good amount of time, before being transported to North Vista Hospital, where I received several stitches for my injuries. I had a bandage that covered most of my forehead, and could barely open my right eye, which was swollen to the point that most people could not recognize that it was even open. My lip was equally swollen, with an stinging pain where the flesh under my mustache, which had been partially ripped away, had a bloody abrasion. I was then taken to Las Vegas City Jail until just before midnight, when I was released, after being bailed out. Dealing with this has not come inexpensively, nor has it been easy, but I continue to proceed forward. I am truly appreciative for all of you who have reached out to me in this time of difficulty for showing solidarity as friends and as a community which I have felt honored to be part of.
The night of April 19, 2019. I was at a birthday party held for two of my friend's family members on the North side of the Las Vegas area. After leaving the birthday party, I purchased some snacks and proceeded to walk to the bus stop at Eastern and Owens Ave.; after sitting down, I had my hand in my backpack while retrieving some snacks when a police vehicle across from me did a U-turn, pulled up to me and an officer exited, stood in front of me, and told me to take my hand out of the bag. I remained still and at the time was unclear as to why I was being stopped, at most I presumed the officer wanted to search my bag. When I asked for an explanation, he only repeated himself without explaining. He did not give an indication that there was any immediate threat. Instead he aggressively threw my head onto the sidewalk. causing bleeding from four open wounds on my face; my forehead, my cheek, my upper lip, and directly above it. It also left a long, deep laceration directly above my eye, and left my lip and eye swollen for days, from which I am still recovering as of this writing (May 4, 2019). I was not anticipating that I would be violently arrested without questioning based on the initial approach and orders of the officer; as such, I was entirely non-aggressive. In short order, the officer then handcuffed me; I was then put in the rear of the vehicle and left to bleed for a good amount of time, before being transported to North Vista Hospital, where I received several stitches for my injuries. I had a bandage that covered most of my forehead, and could barely open my right eye, which was swollen to the point that most people could not recognize that it was even open. My lip was equally swollen, with an stinging pain where the flesh under my mustache, which had been partially ripped away, had a bloody abrasion. I was then taken to Las Vegas City Jail until just before midnight, when I was released, after being bailed out. Dealing with this has not come inexpensively, nor has it been easy, but I continue to proceed forward. I am truly appreciative for all of you who have reached out to me in this time of difficulty for showing solidarity as friends and as a community which I have felt honored to be part of.
Organizer
Jonas Rand
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV
