Alex Svoboda Update
Sep. 8th, 2008 09:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
webfarmerYou may recall last year a local Lincoln gal named Alex Svoboda got her knee horribly re-manufactured by a peace officer in Providence, Rhode Island during a labor march. Her support blog has some good news on her recovery. She didn't lose her leg and she has recovered enough to be able to bicycle again.
First an archive of the photos from the protest that include the horrible photos of her severely dislocated knee. I've played a lot of contact sport in my day and I've never seen anything that bad before. It would certainly make the casual observer think that disproportionate force was used in this instance. This crew doesn't exactly look like a super dangerous lot.
The cops said there were 100 people there and that the large number of people required the response. The protesters said it was more like 30-40 people. Take a look at the photos and tell me who you think is correct.
[The photo gallery - Not for folks with weak stomachs]
Support Alex Svoboda - Blogspot
"Three officers arrested her simultaneously, causing the severe dislocation of her knee and sending Alex to the ground. Even though the policemen knew the obvious seriousness of the act they had just committed, one officer aggressively sat on and handcuffed Alex while others pepper sprayed another demonstrator and arrested Jason Friedmutter, also a Providence IWW member.
Shortly thereafter, Jason was taken to a North Providence police station and Alex was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. Alex underwent emergency surgery the evening of the 11th to save her leg. Alex ultimately sustained a torn popliteal artery in her knee, a fractured tibia and fibia, multiple torn ligaments, and tears in both meniscus. The attack also damaged the nerves from her knee down. Doctors stated that if the surgery hadn't gone as well as it did, plans for amputation would have ensued."
"Alex spent two weeks in the hospital that August undergoing a total of four operations to replace her damaged artery and stabilize her knee. Since then, Alex has done hundreds of hours physical therapy, both at her therapists office and at home. Fortunately, Alex has had excellent health care that covers the bulk of her exorbitant medical expenses.
To add insult to injury, the city of North Providence brought charges against both Alex and Jason. Alex's original charges were three felony counts of assaulting an officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct. Alex's three felony charges have since been dropped to misdemeanors. Jason faces one count of obstruction of justice.
Alex and Jason's cases were going through pre trial in Rhode Island's District Court system, but the process stalled out and their cases have been moved to RI Superior Court for a more expedient trial. Due to the legal process, Alex must now undergo the humiliation of a criminal trial while having to endure and rehab her injuries. Alex's four operations and hospital stay cost over $100,000 (with at least two more operations scheduled to begin in the fall), her ongoing physical therapy has cost thousands, and Alex has not been able to work for more than ten months. It would not even be possible to quantify the hours and hours on end Alex has spent in pain, rehabilitation, undergoing painful medical procedures and enduring severe nerve pangs and muscle spasms.
However, Alex, a long time bicycle enthusiast, went for her first bike ride in nearly ten months recently and has made great progress, unrelentingly working towards full recovery. Alex also continues to organize for the rights of immigrant and marginalized workers alongside fellow Providence IWW and community members, her determination has only grown stronger."
First an archive of the photos from the protest that include the horrible photos of her severely dislocated knee. I've played a lot of contact sport in my day and I've never seen anything that bad before. It would certainly make the casual observer think that disproportionate force was used in this instance. This crew doesn't exactly look like a super dangerous lot.
The cops said there were 100 people there and that the large number of people required the response. The protesters said it was more like 30-40 people. Take a look at the photos and tell me who you think is correct.
[The photo gallery - Not for folks with weak stomachs]
Support Alex Svoboda - Blogspot
"Three officers arrested her simultaneously, causing the severe dislocation of her knee and sending Alex to the ground. Even though the policemen knew the obvious seriousness of the act they had just committed, one officer aggressively sat on and handcuffed Alex while others pepper sprayed another demonstrator and arrested Jason Friedmutter, also a Providence IWW member.
Shortly thereafter, Jason was taken to a North Providence police station and Alex was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. Alex underwent emergency surgery the evening of the 11th to save her leg. Alex ultimately sustained a torn popliteal artery in her knee, a fractured tibia and fibia, multiple torn ligaments, and tears in both meniscus. The attack also damaged the nerves from her knee down. Doctors stated that if the surgery hadn't gone as well as it did, plans for amputation would have ensued."
"Alex spent two weeks in the hospital that August undergoing a total of four operations to replace her damaged artery and stabilize her knee. Since then, Alex has done hundreds of hours physical therapy, both at her therapists office and at home. Fortunately, Alex has had excellent health care that covers the bulk of her exorbitant medical expenses.
To add insult to injury, the city of North Providence brought charges against both Alex and Jason. Alex's original charges were three felony counts of assaulting an officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct. Alex's three felony charges have since been dropped to misdemeanors. Jason faces one count of obstruction of justice.
Alex and Jason's cases were going through pre trial in Rhode Island's District Court system, but the process stalled out and their cases have been moved to RI Superior Court for a more expedient trial. Due to the legal process, Alex must now undergo the humiliation of a criminal trial while having to endure and rehab her injuries. Alex's four operations and hospital stay cost over $100,000 (with at least two more operations scheduled to begin in the fall), her ongoing physical therapy has cost thousands, and Alex has not been able to work for more than ten months. It would not even be possible to quantify the hours and hours on end Alex has spent in pain, rehabilitation, undergoing painful medical procedures and enduring severe nerve pangs and muscle spasms.
However, Alex, a long time bicycle enthusiast, went for her first bike ride in nearly ten months recently and has made great progress, unrelentingly working towards full recovery. Alex also continues to organize for the rights of immigrant and marginalized workers alongside fellow Providence IWW and community members, her determination has only grown stronger."
