Theresa Martinez Funeral Fund
Donation protected
Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that I write to let you know of the passing of Theresa Martinez the morning of March 14, 2021.
Theresa was brave, brilliant, and generous. She was a fierce activist, loyal friend, and loving wife and mother. It is the most horrible, racist irony that a woman dedicating so much of her life to challenging human rights abuses, teaching women and men in her community to resist state violence, and defending communities of color against eugenics would die a the hands of racist institutions that devalued her life and her family.
When Theresa faced a medical emergency, her husband of ten years, Jesús Mejia, called 911 for help. Paramedics refused to provide her care after commenting on her prison tattoos, alleging she was likely just high. Jesús tried to block them from leaving and they threatened him, a monolingual Spanish speaker, with calling the police and deportation. When Jesús was unable to get Theresa into his car and her condition worsened, he called 911 again. The same paramedics returned. Again they refused care. Jesús begged them to help her for many, many minutes before they agreed, and only then did they rush her to the hospital. Theresa suffered severe brain injury due to lack of oxygen.
For two weeks, Jesús visited and prayed. He feared something would happen when he was forced to leave her side to go to work and that she might die, alone. The morning of March 14, the hospital failed to respect Jesus' communicated wishes for her to have more time to heal. They failed to resuscitate her or to contact Jesús when Theresa's breathing became labored, and Theresa died. Jesús was rendered invisible, his wishes ignored, his fears realized. Theresa died alone.
Theresa's legacy must not be stomped out by these acts of oppression. She gave so much to her community in life. It's our turn to give back. Please donate and help Theresa's family ensure she is honored with dignity.
Jesús approved this page and hopes to raise enough money to bury Theresa alongside family. An in-person memorial for family is being planned in Los Angeles. A virtual life celebration honoring Theresa's wealth of activism is being planned to follow shortly thereafter. This page will be updated with details.
Please donate and circulate to help Theresa's family at this time of great loss. And please feel free to post remembrances. The State will never kill Theresa's love and power.
In community and with much grief,
Cynthia Chandler
It is with great sadness that I write to let you know of the passing of Theresa Martinez the morning of March 14, 2021.
Theresa was brave, brilliant, and generous. She was a fierce activist, loyal friend, and loving wife and mother. It is the most horrible, racist irony that a woman dedicating so much of her life to challenging human rights abuses, teaching women and men in her community to resist state violence, and defending communities of color against eugenics would die a the hands of racist institutions that devalued her life and her family.
When Theresa faced a medical emergency, her husband of ten years, Jesús Mejia, called 911 for help. Paramedics refused to provide her care after commenting on her prison tattoos, alleging she was likely just high. Jesús tried to block them from leaving and they threatened him, a monolingual Spanish speaker, with calling the police and deportation. When Jesús was unable to get Theresa into his car and her condition worsened, he called 911 again. The same paramedics returned. Again they refused care. Jesús begged them to help her for many, many minutes before they agreed, and only then did they rush her to the hospital. Theresa suffered severe brain injury due to lack of oxygen.
For two weeks, Jesús visited and prayed. He feared something would happen when he was forced to leave her side to go to work and that she might die, alone. The morning of March 14, the hospital failed to respect Jesus' communicated wishes for her to have more time to heal. They failed to resuscitate her or to contact Jesús when Theresa's breathing became labored, and Theresa died. Jesús was rendered invisible, his wishes ignored, his fears realized. Theresa died alone.
Theresa's legacy must not be stomped out by these acts of oppression. She gave so much to her community in life. It's our turn to give back. Please donate and help Theresa's family ensure she is honored with dignity.
Jesús approved this page and hopes to raise enough money to bury Theresa alongside family. An in-person memorial for family is being planned in Los Angeles. A virtual life celebration honoring Theresa's wealth of activism is being planned to follow shortly thereafter. This page will be updated with details.
Please donate and circulate to help Theresa's family at this time of great loss. And please feel free to post remembrances. The State will never kill Theresa's love and power.
In community and with much grief,
Cynthia Chandler
Organizer
Cynthia Chandler
Organizer
San Leandro, CA