Luigi Mangione's supporters have been flooding him with messages of praise while raising significant funds for his legal defense.
The 26-year-old, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 outside a New York City hotel, was arrested at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and charged with murder.
Mangione has garnered a wave of support, with an enthusiastic fan base advocating for his release and commending his actions.
Supporters launched a GiveSendGo campaign to finance his legal expenses after GoFundMe removed similar fundraising pages.
So far, the GiveSendGo campaign has collected over $35,000 from hundreds of donors, some of whom have labeled him a hero.
“All revolutions start somewhere. May the American people begin to see,” one donor said.
“Every revolution has a pioneer, a martyr. You have chosen to be the one and you will be remembered to be the one,” said another.
“I am sorry for your pain with your back, I don't think you should have taken his life - that's not ours to decide but the message is one that needed to be heard,” a supporter said.
“When the poor fights back, it’s called violence,” commented another donor.
The fundraiser’s organizers stated they do not condone violence but believe in the necessity of fair legal representation.
“All proceeds will be sent directly to Luigi or, if he chooses to reject the funds, they will instead be donated to legal funds for other U.S. political prisoners,” the campaign stated.
Prominent lawyer Thomas Dickey has been retained to represent Mangione in Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, Mangione had a tense court appearance, where he resisted extradition to New York.
The former Ivy League student experienced an intense public outburst and had to be restrained as he loudly protested against police during his entry to the hearing.
The visibly enraged 26-year-old yelled, “This is completely unjust and an insult to the American people,” while officers physically subdued him.
Dramatic photos from outside the Pennsylvania courthouse captured Mangione’s anger, showing his clenched teeth and furrowed brow as a police officer grabbed him by the neck and escorted him through the door.
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