Sarah Grossman (environmentalist)
Sarah Grossman | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 7, 1997 |
| Died | May 30, 2020 Sycamore Hospital |
| Cause of death | Coronary Artery Dissection due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Parent(s) | Todd and Christi Grossman |
| Relatives | Jessa Grossman (sister) |
Sarah Grossman (October 7, 1997 – May 30, 2020) was an American activist and environmentalist whose death after attending the 2020 George Floyd protests gained national social media attention.[1]
Academia
[edit]Grossman graduated with honors on May 3, 2020 from the Ohio State University with a B.S. in Environment and Natural Resources. She spent two summers in Guatemala researching the harvesting industry. Her academic focuses included promoting positive environmental policies and providing support to migrant workers and indigenous communities.[2]
Death
[edit]Two days before her death, Grossman attended a protest against the police killing of George Floyd. There, she was exposed to tear gas and pepper spray discharged by the police.[3] Before the completion of the autopsy, it was speculated by family members and by social media users that Grossman's death could be attributed to tear gas exposure.[4] However, her autopsy revealed that she died of a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) due to previously undiagnosed Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.[5] According to the American Heart Association, it is common for a SCAD event to be preceded by physical or emotional stress[6]
Spirit of SUSTAINS Award
[edit]The Ohio State University's Sustainability Institute created the Spirit of SUSTAINS award in her honor. This award is bestowed to a student who "shows the same spark as Sarah, someone who was constantly inspiring others and pushing for change" within the sustainability learning community at OSU.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Protesters seize on death of Ohio woman, 22, despite questions". Associated Press. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Sarah Rae Grossman (obituary)". Dignity Memorial. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Scher, Isaac (2020-06-02). "A 22-year-old woman in Ohio died 2 days after being tear-gassed by police during a protest". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Autopsy: Woman who died after attending Columbus protest died from natural causes". 10tv.com. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Coroner: Death after Ohio protest was due to natural causes". AP News. 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Coronary Artery Dissection: Not Just A Heart Attack". American Heart Association. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024.
- ^ "The Spirit of SUSTAINS: Carrying On The Legacy of Sarah Grossman". The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2024.