top of page
Acquired Brain Injury Support Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Brain Injury Treatment Programs Neurorehabilitation Services Post-Concussion Syndrome Management Cognitive Therapy for Brain Injury Brain Injury Case Management Long-Term Effects of Brain Injury Brain Injury Recovery Resources Brain Injury Support Groups
Search

A Day Meant for Freedom - Turned Into Fear Harassment, Intimidation, Exclusion, and Threats of Arrest - Connecticut

This is what living your truth looks like. On July 4th in Connecticut, David Medeiros showed up with quiet pride to celebrate the values that built this country. A survivor. An advocate. A leader for those who often feel unseen. He came with no agenda. No signs. No noise. Just peace. And that peace was met with a threat. He was told his presence was a problem. But he stood tall. Grounded. Calm. Because he knew why he was there. He came to honor freedom by living it. And when someone lives in full alignment with truth, they do not need permission. They become the example. This moment was never about protest. It was about principle. About remembering that freedom is not just something we believe in. It is something we become. David reminded us all that leadership is not about volume. It is about vision. And when one person lives that vision, others rise with them. This is the reminder. This is the reset. This is America in motion.
This is what living your truth looks like. On July 4th in Connecticut, David Medeiros showed up with quiet pride to celebrate the values that built this country. A survivor. An advocate. A leader for those who often feel unseen. He came with no agenda. No signs. No noise. Just peace. And that peace was met with a threat. He was told his presence was a problem. But he stood tall. Grounded. Calm. Because he knew why he was there. He came to honor freedom by living it. And when someone lives in full alignment with truth, they do not need permission. They become the example. This moment was never about protest. It was about principle. About remembering that freedom is not just something we believe in. It is something we become. David reminded us all that leadership is not about volume. It is about vision. And when one person lives that vision, others rise with them. This is the reminder. This is the reset. This is America in motion.

July 4, 2025 – Willimantic, Connecticut

On a day meant to celebrate unity, liberty, and independence, our peaceful community group made up of veterans, survivors, families, and disability advocates was publicly targeted, silenced, and threatened.

We came to honor freedom.Instead, we were met with state-enabled exclusion, intimidation, and threats of arrest.

🗓️ What Was Supposed to Be a Celebration of Unity

On the morning of July 4, 2025, we arrived in Willimantic just after sunrise at 7:00 a.m. sharp to prepare a joyful, inclusive presence for the town’s Independence Day Parade.

We brought:

  • 🪖 Veterans who served this nation with honor

  • 🧠 Survivors of traumatic brain injury and stroke

  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Children, caregivers, and families

  • ♿ Community supporters of individuals with disabilities

  • 🦅 An American eagle mascot

  • 🚗 A fully decorated Tesla Cybertruck in red, white, and blue

We parked legally in a public space under the shade of a tree.We wore patriotic colors.We prepared to roll with wheelchairs, walkers, and canes walking with dignity and peace as proud Americans.

But the moment we arrived, the tone shifted.



🚨 What Actually Happened

Despite our peaceful presence, we were immediately surrounded by three Willimantic Police Officers, including Officer Nixon, who publicly threatened to arrest David Medeiros, a brain injury survivor, Medicaid provider, and federally protected whistleblower.

We asked for a supervisor multiple times.Officer Nixon refused, claiming he was the highest-ranking officer present.

He then escalated the encounter in front of children, veterans, and families surrounding our group with additional officers.

This was not policing.This was an intentional public spectacle designed to intimidate and erase.



🧑‍⚖️ Political Coordination & Public Targeting

Just feet away, a large group of politically affiliated Connecticut-funded organizers and protesters known for their alignment with state officials were not only left undisturbed, but celebrated.

They were allowed to:

  • Stand at the front of the parade

  • Pose for photos with elected officials

  • March alongside politicians

Meanwhile, our peaceful, inclusive group the first to arrive was isolated, surrounded, and told to move.

Event organizers backed a dually truck within inches of our Tesla, trapping us in place.The message was clear:You will not be seen.


🔒 A Direct Violation of Civil Rights


This was not a misunderstanding.It was a coordinated violation of federal civil rights laws.

We were not disruptive. We simply existed in peace.

And for that, we were:

  • Threatened with arrest

  • Denied access to a supervisor

  • Surrounded by law enforcement

  • Physically blocked from participating

This violates:

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • The First Amendment

  • Federal whistleblower protections

ABI Resources has filed multiple complaints with the DOJ, HHS, CHRO, and FBI for systemic discrimination and retaliation in the state of Connecticut.


👁️ What This Really Says

When a group of survivors, veterans, children, and families is silenced on the 4th of July, it is not just an attack on our presence.

It is an attack on the promise of America.

  • What did Officer Nixon’s public threat say to the children watching?

  • What did it say to the veterans beside us?

  • What does it say to every person with a disability who thought they were protected?


🗣️ A Voice for the Greatest Good

This is now part of the public record.

  • ✅ A FOIA request has been filed

  • ✅ Evidence has been preserved

  • ✅ Witnesses have stepped forward

  • ✅ Federal complaints have been submitted to DOJ, HHS, OCR, and FBI

We are not reacting with hate.We are responding with truth, law, and light.



📣 Our Commitment Going Forward

We stand for:

  • 🪖 Veterans who served and deserve respect

  • ♿ Disabled Americans protected under the ADA

  • 🧒 Children and families who came to celebrate, not be silenced

  • 📜 Every citizen who believes in liberty and justice for all

This parade may have been hijacked by politics.But our presence is not political.It is constitutional. It is sacred. And it is protected.

✍️ Filed by:

David Medeiros

Founder, ABI Resources

Brain Injury Survivor

Medicaid Whistleblower

Civil Rights Advocate

Willimantic, Connecticut 🇺🇸

✅ This blog post is available for submission to federal civil rights agencies, members of Congress, and national media.

This is what it means to be proud to be an American. David Medeiros is a brain injury survivor, a father, and the founder of ABI Resources an organization that supports some of the most vulnerable members of our society. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace and gratitude. Not in protest, but in full appreciation of the freedoms protected by the Constitution and secured by the men and women of law enforcement and the military. He showed up to honor those who serve and the rights that make America home. When challenged, he stood respectfully in truth, knowing that real strength comes from living the values we defend. ABI Resources was built on those same values dignity, service, and freedom. We honor every officer and soldier who puts on a uniform to protect those values. And we believe that showing up with integrity is the greatest way to say thank you. This is how we lead. This is how we serve. This is what it means to be American.
This is what it means to be proud to be an American. David Medeiros is a brain injury survivor, a father, and the founder of ABI Resources an organization that supports some of the most vulnerable members of our society. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace and gratitude. Not in protest, but in full appreciation of the freedoms protected by the Constitution and secured by the men and women of law enforcement and the military. He showed up to honor those who serve and the rights that make America home. When challenged, he stood respectfully in truth, knowing that real strength comes from living the values we defend. ABI Resources was built on those same values dignity, service, and freedom. We honor every officer and soldier who puts on a uniform to protect those values. And we believe that showing up with integrity is the greatest way to say thank you. This is how we lead. This is how we serve. This is what it means to be American.

📌 Official Attendees: Willimantic Boom Box Parade (July 4, 2025)

Federal and State Officials:

  • Susan Bysiewicz – Lieutenant Governor, State of Connecticut

  • Richard Blumenthal – U.S. Senator

  • Joe Courtney – U.S. Representative (CT-02)

  • Stephanie Thomas – Secretary of the State

  • Erick Russell – State Treasurer

State and Local Leaders:

  • Mae Flexer – State Senator

  • Susan Johnson – State Representative

  • Tom DeVivo – Mayor of Windham/Willimantic

Note: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy is excluded due to unconfirmed attendance.
This is what real connection looks like. Family is not always blood. Sometimes it’s the people who show up when it matters most. The friends who stay. The neighbors who listen. The ones who see you not for what you’ve been through, but for who you are becoming. David Medeiros is a survivor and a servant leader. Through his life and through ABI Resources, he has built a community where friends become family and no one is left behind. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace, not alone — but carried by the love and support of those who believe in him. That is what family does. They hold space. They lift each other. They rise as one. And in a world that can feel disconnected, that kind of unity is everything. ABI Resources is more than a service. It is a living example of what happens when people care deeply and stand together. This is how healing happens. This is how family is built. This is how we grow — together, with love and purpose.
This is what it means to be proud to be an American. David Medeiros is a brain injury survivor, a father, and the founder of ABI Resources an organization that supports some of the most vulnerable members of our society. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace and gratitude. Not in protest, but in full appreciation of the freedoms protected by the Constitution and secured by the men and women of law enforcement and the military. He showed up to honor those who serve and the rights that make America home. When challenged, he stood respectfully in truth, knowing that real strength comes from living the values we defend. ABI Resources was built on those same values dignity, service, and freedom. We honor every officer and soldier who puts on a uniform to protect those values. And we believe that showing up with integrity is the greatest way to say thank you. This is how we lead. This is how we serve. This is what it means to be American.

🚔  Willimantic Police Personnel Involved

  • Chief Fabian Silva – Chief of Police, Willimantic Police Department

  • Officer Nixon – Lead responding officer; conducted vehicle plate search, denied supervisory request, issued public arrest threat

  • Two additional Willimantic Police Officers – Present during incident; currently pending identification via FOIA disclosure

📄 FOIA and Records Officer – Town of Windham

  • Samuel P. Browning – Freedom of Information (FOIA) Compliance Officer, Willimantic Police Department


🔍 SEO & Public Tags

This is what real connection looks like. Family is not always blood. Sometimes it’s the people who show up when it matters most. The friends who stay. The neighbors who listen. The ones who see you not for what you’ve been through, but for who you are becoming. David Medeiros is a survivor and a servant leader. Through his life and through ABI Resources, he has built a community where friends become family and no one is left behind. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace, not alone — but carried by the love and support of those who believe in him. That is what family does. They hold space. They lift each other. They rise as one. And in a world that can feel disconnected, that kind of unity is everything. ABI Resources is more than a service. It is a living example of what happens when people care deeply and stand together. This is how healing happens. This is how family is built. This is how we grow together, with love and purpose.
This is what real connection looks like. Family is not always blood. Sometimes it’s the people who show up when it matters most. The friends who stay. The neighbors who listen. The ones who see you not for what you’ve been through, but for who you are becoming. David Medeiros is a survivor and a servant leader. Through his life and through ABI Resources, he has built a community where friends become family and no one is left behind. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace, not alone but carried by the love and support of those who believe in him. That is what family does. They hold space. They lift each other. They rise as one. And in a world that can feel disconnected, that kind of unity is everything. ABI Resources is more than a service. It is a living example of what happens when people care deeply and stand together. This is how healing happens. This is how family is built. This is how we grow together, with love and purpose.

🏛️ Public Accountability Notice

Willimantic Police Dismiss July 4 Complaint Without ADA or Civil Rights Review

Published: July 23, 2025

Filed by: David Medeiros | Founder, ABI Resources

Tags: ADA Rights, Civil Rights, Willimantic Police, July 4th BoomBox Parade, Disability Discrimination, Police Transparency, Whistleblower Retaliation

🚨 Overview On July 11, 2025, the Willimantic Police Department issued a formal letter in response to civil rights concerns raised by David Medeiros, a brain injury survivor and founder of ABI Resources, regarding violations during the July 4th BoomBox Parade. The department concluded that the complaint was “unfounded,” based on body-worn camera (BWC) footage and Connecticut’s internal standards with no mention of ADA review, civil rights oversight, or disability protocols. 📜 Summary of the Police Letter From: Lieutenant Matthew Solak, Investigating Supervisor To: David Medeiros, ABI Resources, Gales Ferry, CT Date: July 11, 2025 Conclusion: No malfeasance, misfeasance, or misconduct found Omissions: No ADA Title II analysis, no emotional harm review, no mention of whistleblower status 🚔 Officers Named or Present Chief Fabian Silva Lt. Matthew Solak Sgt. Joseph Coderre Officer Kyle Perron Officer James LaFountain Officer Heather Corriveau Officer Michael Duschene FOIA Officer: Samuel P. Browning These names are derived from community records, July 4 assignments, and bodycam indicators. All are presumed professional unless official findings state otherwise.

🚨 Overview

On July 11, 2025, the Willimantic Police Department issued a formal letter in response to civil rights concerns raised by David Medeiros, a brain injury survivor and founder of ABI Resources, regarding violations during the July 4th BoomBox Parade.

The department concluded that the complaint was “unfounded,” based on body-worn camera (BWC) footage and Connecticut’s internal standards with no mention of ADA review, civil rights oversight, or disability protocols.


📜 Summary of the Police Letter

  • From: Lieutenant Matthew Solak, Investigating Supervisor

  • To: David Medeiros, ABI Resources, Gales Ferry, CT

  • Date: July 11, 2025

  • Conclusion: No malfeasance, misfeasance, or misconduct found

  • Omissions: No ADA Title II analysis, no emotional harm review, no mention of whistleblower status

🚔 Officers Named or Present

  • Chief Fabian Silva

  • Lt. Matthew Solak

  • Sgt. Joseph Coderre

  • Officer Kyle Perron

  • Officer James LaFountain

  • Officer Heather Corriveau

  • Officer Michael Duschene

  • FOIA Officer: Samuel P. Browning

These names are derived from community records, July 4 assignments, and bodycam indicators. All are presumed professional unless official findings state otherwise.

🧠 Context: Why This Matters

“I wasn’t causing a disruption. I was celebrating my country as a survivor, father, and citizen,” writes David Medeiros.

His peaceful presence as a whistleblower and visibly disabled individual triggered suspicion, exclusion, and public humiliation. This response dismisses not just the complaint, but the lived reality of countless Americans.


⚖️ Legal Implications

The dismissal raises violations under:

  • ADA Title II (42 U.S.C. § 12132)

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794)

  • First Amendment Rights of Peaceful Participation

  • Equal Protection under the Fourteenth Amendment

No disability rights protocol was triggered. No civil rights office was consulted.


This is what real connection looks like. Family is not always blood. Sometimes it’s the people who show up when it matters most. The friends who stay. The neighbors who listen. The ones who see you not for what you’ve been through, but for who you are becoming. David Medeiros is a survivor and a servant leader. Through his life and through ABI Resources, he has built a community where friends become family and no one is left behind. On July 4th in Connecticut, he stood in peace, not alone — but carried by the love and support of those who believe in him. That is what family does. They hold space. They lift each other. They rise as one. And in a world that can feel disconnected, that kind of unity is everything. ABI Resources is more than a service. It is a living example of what happens when people care deeply and stand together. This is how healing happens. This is how family is built. This is how we grow — together, with love and purpose.🛑 EMERGENCY DECLARATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION

David Medeiros v. The State of Connecticut

A Matter of National Enforcement

Date of Incident: July 4, 2025

Location: BoomBox Parade, Willimantic, Connecticut

Filed by: David Medeiros, Founder of ABI Resources

Purpose: To compel immediate federal enforcement of the Constitution where Connecticut failed


⚠️ Event Summary

I stood in peace. Holding an American flag. In unity with my community.

  • I am a brain injury survivor.

  • I am a federal whistleblower.

  • I was targeted and silenced not for what I did, but for who I am.

I was never accused of wrongdoing. I was surrounded by officers, denied access, and excluded — while celebrating

Independence Day.


🔍 The Bigger Picture: Systemic Retaliation

This is part of a broader, documented pattern:

  • FOIA erasures

  • CHRO complaint deletions

  • DOJ and HHS filings ignored

  • OSC responses altered or unsigned


Federal complaints have been submitted to:

  • ✅ DOJ Civil Rights Division

  • ✅ FBI Criminal and Public Corruption Division

  • ✅ HHS OCR

  • ✅ U.S. Office of Special Counsel


📜 Constitutional & Federal Violations

  • First Amendment: Right to peaceful assembly and expression

  • Fourteenth Amendment: Equal protection denied

  • ADA Title II: Inaccessible and discriminatory public policing

  • Section 504: Discrimination by federally funded agency

  • Whistleblower Protection Act: Retaliation for protected disclosures


🧾 Evidence Filed

  • Signed letter from Lt. Solak dismissing complaint

  • Bodycam footage withheld

  • FOIA requests unanswered

  • Whistleblower records documented and timestamped


🛡️ This Is No Longer Local - This Is Federal

The State of Connecticut is not above the Constitution.No state has the right to silence, intimidate, or erase its citizens under color of law.


Final Declaration

I am an American. I am protected by the Constitution not governed by the dysfunction of a retaliatory state.

We now demand:

  • ✅ DOJ investigation into Willimantic Police conduct

  • ✅ Public release of body-worn footage

  • ✅ Federal enforcement of ADA and civil rights

  • ✅ Oversight of Connecticut’s judicial and administrative abuse


✊ A Call to Every American

To the veterans, caregivers, survivors, and advocates:

Your story matters. Your rights matter. You are not alone.

Share your experience:

📧 Email DOJ Civil Rights: CRT@usdoj.gov

📧 Email HHS OCR: ocrmail@hhs.gov


🔗 Related Cases

  • CHRO Case No. 2410220

  • OSC Case No. DI-12192024714

  • Federal filings: DOJ, FBI, HHS OCR


📝 Filed by

David Medeiros

Founder, ABI Resources

Survivor. Whistleblower. Advocate.Willimantic, Connecticut


A disabled whistleblower was threatened during a July 4 parade for peacefully standing in truth. ADA, First Amendment, and civil rights violations now demand urgent federal enforcement.

Federal Complaint Filed: ADA Violations, Abuse of Authority, and Civil Rights Suppression in Connecticut (OSC Filing DI-07242025629)

Published: July 24, 2025

Author: David Medeiros | ABI ResourcesTags: ADA Rights, Whistleblower Protection, OSC Complaint, Civil Rights, July 4 Parade, Constitutional Violations, Connecticut Police, Public Safety, DOJ Oversight, HHS OCR, Disability Rights, CHRO, Abuse of Authority, Government Misconduct, Medicaid Whistleblower


Overview:

On July 24, 2025, David Medeiros a brain injury survivor, whistleblower, and founder of ABI Resources filed a federal disclosure with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) under case number DI-07242025629. This complaint formally reports systemic violations of civil rights, ADA Title II, and whistleblower protections by Connecticut state officials and the Willimantic Police Department.


This federal filing comes after a July 4, 2025 incident in which Mr. Medeiros was publicly threatened, excluded, and targeted while peacefully participating in a patriotic community parade. The OSC complaint details patterns of retaliation, disability-based discrimination, and official abuse of authority.


Key Allegations Filed with OSC:

  • Violation of Law, Rule, or Regulation (ADA Title II, Section 504, Whistleblower Protection Act)

  • Abuse of Authority (Police intimidation of a federally documented whistleblower)

  • Danger to Public Safety (Escalation toward disabled individuals and veterans)

  • Gross Mismanagement (Failure to investigate or acknowledge ADA obligations)


OSC Filing Summary (DI-07242025629):

  • Incident Date: July 4, 2025

  • Location: Willimantic BoomBox Parade, Connecticut

  • Respondents: Chief Fabian Silva, Officer Nixon, Lt. Matthew Solak, and others

  • Complainant: David Medeiros – U.S. citizen, ADA-protected individual, and whistleblower

  • Agency Notified: DOJ, HHS OCR, FBI, CHRO (state)

  • Request for Relief: Federal enforcement of ADA and constitutional protections; investigation of police and state retaliation; release of public records and body camera footage


Supporting Exhibits Attached to OSC Filing:

  • Police letter dismissing the civil rights complaint without ADA review (Exhibit A)

  • Email complaints to DOJ and HHS OCR

  • Full blog documentation of the July 4 incident and civil rights analysis

  • Federal whistleblower reports filed in 2024 and 2025


Why This Matters:This complaint is not about protest it’s about presence. It’s about what happens when a disabled American citizen shows up in peace, with love of country, and is met with state-sponsored exclusion. The OSC has now received direct evidence of federal rights being violated under color of law.

This filing represents a moment of truth for Connecticut and a call for national accountability.


Next Steps Requested of Federal Agencies:

  • OSC investigation and whistleblower protection review

  • DOJ Civil Rights Division intervention

  • HHS OCR ADA enforcement

  • Immediate federal review of Willimantic Police conduct and public safety failures

  • Public release of body-worn camera footage


About the Complainant:

David Medeiros is a nationally recognized advocate for vulnerable populations. He is a survivor of traumatic brain injury and the founder of ABI Resources, a Connecticut-based organization that supports Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities. Mr. Medeiros has filed multiple federal whistleblower complaints related to Medicaid fraud, civil rights suppression, and systemic abuse.


Public Archive Access & Advocacy Hub:🧠 www.ctbraininjury.com – Official Whistleblower and ADA Civil Rights Archive📩 Email complaints and evidence to: ocrmail@hhs.gov, crt@usdoj.gov, info@osc.gov

This case will now serve as a public index and source of reference for ongoing advocacy, oversight, and legal action. It stands as a commitment to the Constitution, to justice, and to the power of one voice speaking up for many.


Filed by:David Medeiros

Founder, ABI Resources

Survivor. Advocate. American.Willimantic, Connecticut


"It was about showing up in full alignment with who we are.

A husband. A father. A survivor.

A voice for the vulnerable.

A voice that says you are not alone.


We came to honor what’s right.

To be our best. To live our values.

And that alone triggered a toxic system that still struggles to recognize the constitutional rights of Americans.


This is a defining moment for Connecticut.

Not because of what was done to me but because of how we choose to respond as Americans.


This is about families.

About courage.

About what leadership looks like when the spotlight is uncomfortable, or when no one is watching.


We will keep showing up.

For what’s right.

For those who need us.

For those who cannot speak for themselves.

I promise you.


@DavidMedeiros

Honor All. Be Your Best.


bottom of page