Standing Rock Protester May Lose Arm After Being Injured By Police
Sophia Wilansky, 21, was one of 300 water protectors and protesters in North Dakota who were targeted by local authorities using water cannons, tear gas and concussion grenades this past weekend. Unfortunately, she was left with one of the more serious injuries as she may lose her left arm.
“The best-case scenario is no pain and 10-20% functionality,” said her father, Wayne Wilansky, to the Guardian.
Sophia reportedly went through eight hours of surgery in Minneapolis after a police officer threw a concussion grenade that her father claims caused the arteries, median nerve, muscle and bone in her left arm to be “blown away.” There are still multiple surgeries expected to take place over the next few days, with the possibility of her arm having to be amputated still looming.
“She’s devastated. She looks at her arm and she cries,” Wayne continued.
A GoFundMe page has been started to cover Sophia’s medical expenses. As of this writing, more than $296,000 of the $500,000 goal has been raised by 11,000 people in just a day.
“Sophia has always been committed to confronting injustice through vigilance and resistance,” said an update on the page. “Sophia was giving out bottles of water to protectors holding down the space when she was shot with a concussion grenade. This was the response of police and DAPL mercenaries as she and other brave protectors attempted to hold the line against the black snake in service of protecting our water.”
Photo Credit: GoFundMe