In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, many individuals faced violence from law enforcement while advocating for racial justice. Featured along with other survivors like LaToya Ratlieff, Argelio Giron, and Linda Tirado—each of whose stories of trauma during these protests is profound and moving. Because of their interactions with law enforcement, they have suffered permanent psychological and physiological effects.
Ratlieff has become nationally recognized for the horrific experience she endured at the hands of law enforcement during a protest on May 31, 2020. Even when Chris [t]er shot her in the face with a rubber bullet. This auto-pedestrian collision occurred just days after Derek Chauvin, then a Minneapolis police officer, killed George Floyd. His death in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers inspired widespread national protests. Ratlieff’s encounter with law enforcement left her with limited vision and severe damage to her throat and airway. After four years of costly fights with the government, she won a $2 million settlement.
On May 20, Argelio Giron, a 41-year-old caregiver from Santa Rosa, California, was violently confronted by police at the #DefundPolice protest. Officers then shot him with a barricade round, escalating the tense standoff dramatically. Giron regularly participates with Danza Azteca, a traditional Mexican Indigenous dance ensemble. Here, he is taking part in transformational programs such as the Peace and Dignity Journeys. Like many survivors, his experience has been traumatic and transformative, as he continues to navigate the impacts of that day.
In Minneapolis, photojournalist Linda Tirado was documenting protests when she was shot in the face with a plastic bullet on May 29. Now 42 and living in Tennessee, Tirado has struggled tremendously since her injury. It has truly taken over her everyday life and mental health. Each of these people is an example of the deep and sometimes invisible effects of police violence at protests.
LaToya Ratlieff’s Ordeal
LaToya Ratlieff, who participated in the Fort Lauderdale demonstration, went with a friend to call for an end to racial injustice after the death of George Floyd. Things quickly escalated as law enforcement responded by using tear gas to clear demonstrators. Ratlieff was one of many who were impacted by the gas when she was shot in the face with a rubber bullet.
After the incident, she described her immediate physical state: “I saw I had blood on my hand.” The damage of her injuries was not limited to physical trauma. She suffered profound psychological damage, too. Ratlieff would be the first to tell you that her recovery has not been without its hiccups. “I was taking ibuprofen a lot because, besides the swelling, the pain, I had headaches for a very, very, very, very, very long time,” she recalled.
As painful as the ordeal was, Ratlieff went on to sue the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Her dogged efforts resulted in a settlement by the City of nearly $2 million four years after the event. Today, though, she still is dealing with the effects of her injuries. “I don’t think I would change anything because it’s a contribution that one can make for the motivation of people,” she reflected on her involvement in the protests.
Detective Eliezer Ramos, who shot Ratlieff, was subsequently cleared of any misconduct. The outcome of his case raises questions about accountability within law enforcement during demonstrations and highlights the ongoing struggle for justice among victims of police violence.
Argelio Giron’s Experience
Argelio Giron has deeply and intensely immersed himself in Danza Azteca for more than a dozen years. He is a consistently engaging presence at artistic and civic gatherings that support social harmony, peace, and dignity. His values were truly put to the test when he attended a solidarity protest in Santa Rosa on May 20, 2020.
At the protest, Giron would have a shocking, possibly life-changing encounter with police. He was shot with a crowd control round. He characterized that effect as the worst possible combination—a “hard, very fast impact.” The injury resulted in so much blood he had trouble getting all of it off his hands and pain that continued long after the incident.
Reflecting on his experience, Giron stated, “The bullet, when I picked it up afterwards, did not have any markings from the ground.” He concluded that this indicated a deliberate aim at him: “It had no damage on the outside. So this must have been a direct aim at me.” Giron’s account is a chilling reminder of the dangers the protesters face while fighting for positive social change.
Even after the trauma he experienced, Giron is still focused on the work he does in cultural defense and community unity. His journey through recovery has reinforced his belief in the importance of activism: “I don’t actually care what you think about it, but this is how I have to engage with the world in order to be understood.”
Linda Tirado’s Journey
Linda Tirado, who had traveled to Minneapolis to chronicle the uprising and the response from police, found herself on the receiving end of police violence. On the evening of May 29, 2020, she chronicled the chaos of that day through her camera lens. Without warning, a plastic bullet hit her full force in the face. The injury changed her life forever, physically and psychologically.
Tirado described her recovery process as tumultuous. “I have three weeks’ worth of good days and one week worth of bad days,” she stated. This back and forth with her health showcases the reality for so many still struggling with the effects of trauma long after it’s happened. The result is that the physical injuries she suffered have added to her mental health burden.
Coping with her extensive, unstable injuries necessitated a radical shift in Tirado’s everyday and social realities. She lamented about her living conditions: “I didn’t move to a place based on its accessibility. There’s no sidewalks.” This statement highlights how systemic issues extend beyond individual encounters with police violence. They reflect broader societal failures that impact individuals’ quality of life.