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This Doctor Is Giving Free Treatment To Protesters
This protestor developed a severe rash from tear gas. He contacted Dr. Amir Moarefi for help. (Jackie Fortiér/LAist)
Hundreds of thousands of Americans have protested racial injustice over the last two weeks. Some have clashed with police. We don’t know how many of them have been injured.
But hundreds have contacted a Long Beach doctor who posted on Instagram that he would treat protesters for free.
"I started to get the messages coming in and first started off with a lot of virtual consults, a lot of messages, pictures, FaceTime chats," Dr. Amir Moarefi said.
Moarefi, who is an ophthalmologist, has since put together a loose network of medical professionals across the country to help out.
He also treats some protesters in person, like Deon Jones.
Jones suffered a fractured cheekbone and got a concussion after being hit by a rubber bullet at a protest in downtown Los Angeles.
He found out about Moarefi from a friend who had seen the doctor's Instagram post. Then Jones went to see the doctor in person.
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"I filled out some paperwork. I remember the girl saying, 'your visit today will be free,'" recalled Jones, who does not have health insurance. "I thought about how many people need to hear that."
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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