Outrage from George Floyd’s death sparks protests, a volunteer medic speaks out

I went to the protest today [May 28] in Minneapolis specifically to provide first aid care for anyone injured in the chaos. My shirt read first aid and I spent the entire time I was there providing first aid and medical treatment to anyone injured, maced, or pepper sprayed. I also handed out supplies like face-masks, water and snacks to anyone in need of them.

While I was there I witnessed some very horrific things. It was nothing short of a war zone. One man was hit in the head with a flash grenade that blew out his eardrum and knocked him unconscious. Later that day I grouped up with a team of volunteer first aid providers and medics to better provide and care for anyone injured during the protest. One of the volunteers, a licensed medical professional, told me that she was maced while providing care in the field to a downed civilian despite announcing that she is a medic and sitting on a curb. [She was] wearing a nurse uniform and nonviolent in every way yet she was still attacked by police. 

Unfortunately it wouldn’t be so unbelievable for long as within the hour we got word that police were coming around the corner. We had to set up a medical area with a sign stating that anyone could receive medical care or first aid at that location in the well lit alleyway and were completely separate from the protests happening in the street.

We were in the middle of treating a woman when the police attacked us. They fired rubber bullets at us, hitting one of the volunteers twice, and maced us despite the shouts that we were medical volunteers and providing first aid. They chased us down the alleyway and into a parking garage where we hid behind a car for 20 minutes as they rode up and down the road in front of where we were located.

They found us though and eventually drove us out of there too which is when we left. They had taken our medical equipment and gear and driven us away from where we were needed most. I heard from someone else later in the evening that they had maced a medical tend that had been set up as well in another location.

This is not meant to draw attention to me. I am posting this because THIS needs to be shared. The police are out of control! This is why the protests are happening! Attacking medics is a crime. We were not violent. We were not in their faces. We were not harassing them or taunting them in any way and weren’t doing anything wrong but they still opened fire on us and treated us like less than human. 

This is a time for everyone to stand up and fight these injustices. I for one will not sit idly by while the police are allowed to treat human beings this way. I will be going back tomorrow to continue helping and aiding injured protesters and civilians who need our help and making sure they get the first aid care they need. I will keep everyone updated on what I see and what happens out there and please stay safe y’all!

-Anonymous