A “survival fund” has been started for the Black man who uploaded shocking video of the Alton Sterling shooting earlier this month.
Thirty-four-year-old Chris LeDay was arrested, detained and placed on leave from his job without pay shortly after posting the horrific footage showing Baton Rouge officers shooting and killing Sterling in front of a local convenience store.
But Philadelphia man Adam Huh came to the rescue by launching a GoFundMe campaign to help LeDay pay his mounting legal fees.
“This man uploaded a video of a murder now the police are making his life a living hell!,” Huh wrote on the crowdfunding page. “He hasn’t been able to work and now will have lawyer fees to cover simply because we live in a society where the police cover for each other but expect us citizens to snitch. The blue protection shield must come to an end! They killed someone, he recorded it! Let the man live! Let’s come together and show some support for this brother!”
Since its launch on July 22, the page has received over $12,000 in donations; the ultimate goal is to raise $50,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, all donations to the “survival fund” will go directly to LeDay to help pay his lawyer fees and support his livelihood while he’s out of work. Huh asserted that he’s been in contact with the Georgia man and spoke with LeDay and his attorneys on Monday to discuss the matter.
“I do not know Mr. LeDay personally but I applaud him for his bravery,” Huh wrote. “I am just a concerned citizen born and raised in Philadelphia trying to do my part and assist this man in his time of need! Again I have been in direct contact with Mr. LeDay and he is fully aware of my intentions!”
An account has also been set up at Black-owned financial institution Citizen’s Trust bank in Atlanta, LeDay’s attorney Tiffany Simmons announced during an interview with V-103’s Maria Boynton. Atlanta Black Star reached out to Simmons to confirm that she and her client were aware of Huh’s crowdfunding page, but has not yet received a response.
LeDay shared the harrowing details of his detainment with the radio station, describing how he was arrested and held by at least 10 military police officers carrying M-16 assault rifles when he arrived to work the morning after posting the video. The Georgia man was handcuffed and leg-shackled after authorities told him he fit the description of a suspect wanted for assault and battery. He was only released after forking over $1,231 in unpaid traffic fines, Atlanta Black Star reports.
LeDay’s job is still in limbo, as he hasn’t been able to return to work at Dobbins Air Reserve Base due to security clearance issues. According to ABS, he had been working at the base for only a month when the chaos surrounding the video occurred. LeDay said he felt he was targeted by police for posting the footage.
“Anything is possible. However, it’s quite fishy that this happened to my client literally 24 hours after he uploaded the video,” Simmons said during a press conference last Friday.
As the public became more aware LeDay’s struggles following his arrest, many requested that a GoFundMe page be set up to raise funds for the father of three during his time of need. However, a handful of critics offered no sympathy for the Georgia man.
“Gofundme is for folks that actually need the money,” one person wrote on the campaign’s page. “I’m glad it’s being used to pay folks fines and looks like he’s gonna make bail thank goodness….(sarcasm).”
“Survival fund? Did he lose all of his belongings, home, city, community, etc and have to start over from the bottom? I don’t think so,” wrote another. “His life choices landed him where he is.”
Despite the backlash and criticism, Huh has remained optimistic and thanked everyone who has donated on behalf of LeDay thus far.
“Thank you all for helping out and coming to the aid of Mr. Leday!,” Huh wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “I feel in my heart that this man shouldn’t be going through what he is going through simply for uploading a video. His bravery should be celebrated not scrutinized! We need more people like him. Please all my positive people ignore the negativity on the campaign! We will kill them with kindness and continue to support each other day in and day out! Thank you all!”
