---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brad Johnson" <brad@climatehawksvote.com>
Date: Nov 22, 2016 1:06 PM
Subject: Sophia Wilansky
To:
From: "Brad Johnson" <brad@climatehawksvote.com>
Date: Nov 22, 2016 1:06 PM
Subject: Sophia Wilansky
To:
liz --Last night, Sophia Wilansky was catastrophically injured when a concussion grenade thrown by police defending the Dakota Access Pipeline company hit her left arm and exploded. Sophia, a 21-year-old climate activist, was heading to bring water to the unarmed people who were being attacked for several hours by Morton County Sheriff forces. She was successfully delivered to emergency surgery in Minneapolis.
A generous group of Climate Hawks Vote members have pledged to match any contributions made to support Sophia's medical costs. Your $5 contribution will be doubled to $10 if you make it now:
Contribute $5 to support Sophia's medical fund with Climate Hawks Vote.
All funds raised will go to Sophia's medical fund.The Morton County Sheriff's Department is falsely claiming that she was injured by a propane explosion caused by the protectors. The grenade pieces that have been removed from her arm in surgery will be saved for legal proceedings.
Sophia is currently in stable condition. Below is information about her injuries and surgery from her father, lawyer Wayne Wilansky:
A grenade exploded right as it hit Sophia in the left forearm taking most of the undersurface of her left arm with it. Both her radial and ulnar artery were completely destroyed. Her radius was shattered and a large piece of it is missing. Her medial nerve is missing a large section as well. All of the muscle and soft tissue between her elbow and wrist were blown away. Sophia will have surgery again tomorrow as bit by bit they try to rebuild a somewhat functioning arm and hand. The first surgery took a vein from her leg which they have implanted in her arm to take the place of the missing arteries. She will need multiple surgeries to try to gain some functional use of the arm and hand."There are no words to describe the pain of watching my daughter cry and say she was sorry for the pain she caused me and my wife," her father says. "I died a thousand deaths today and will continue to do so for quite some time. I am left without the right words to describe the anguish of watching her look at her now alien arm and hand."It's crucial that our support respect Sophia's deliberate sacrifice and builds power for the climate movement. We must keep organizing and holding the fossil-fuel industry and its enablers accountable.Your $10 will be doubled to $20 to support Sophia's medical fund.
Sophia was far from alone in suffering direct violence from the Dakota Access police forces.
Hundreds of water protectors have been injured at the Standing Rock encampments in the last few days. Law enforcement blasted the protectors with water cannons in freezing temperatures Sunday evening. Water protectors' efforts to clear the road and improve access to the camp for emergency services were met with tear gas, stinger grenades, rubber bullets, and indiscriminate use of a water cannon with an air temperature of 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple people were unconscious and bleeding after being shot in the head with rubber bullets. Hundreds were treated for injuries, tear-gas exposure, and hypothermia.
Chip in any amount now to support Sophia's medical fund.
Please share this email with friends and family.
your fellow climate hawk,
Brad Johnson
LEARN MORE
Dakota Access pipeline protester seriously hurt during police standoff, The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/22/dakota- access-pipeline-protester- seriously-hurt-during-police- standoff-standing-rock
Dakota Pipeline: Protesters Soaked With Water in Freezing Temperatures, NBC News
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/dakota-pipeline- protests/dakota-pipeline- protesters-authorities-clash- temperatures-drop-n686581
Demand the demilitarization of Standing Rock:
White House: 202-456-1111
ND Office of the Governor: 701-328-2200
Morton County Sheriff's Department: 701-328-8118 & 701-667-3330
ND National Guard: 701-333-2000
