A Virginia woman's exercise of free speech cost her a job and healthcare coverage. But she says anonymous friends online have helped lift her "heavy burdens."
Juli Briskman was fired from her job on Oct. 31 after a photo of her flipping off President Trump's motorcade while riding a bicycle went viral.
Last week, after the story of Briskman's termination made national news, a GoFundMe page was set up by someone who described her as "an inspiration to us all."
"I never imagined that my 'one-finger salute' to the presidential motorcade and its occupant would cost me my job," Briskman wrote on the page.
Among her concerns in the days following her firing from Virginia-based Akima, Briskman said she thought about how and when she'd tell her two kids, as well as how she'd cover healthcare and her mortgage.
In nine days, the "Thank You Juli Briskman" GoFundMe page raised more than $109,000 of an initial $100,000 goal.
"Through your very generous donations, many of those heavy burdens have been lifted," Briskman wrote.
On Thursday, Briskman wrote on GoFundMe that she was in the process of individually thanking every person who'd donated to her fundraiser. That total was at about 5,000 people as of Thursday morning.
Clint Davis is a reporter for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis. Keep up to date with the latest news by following @ScrippsNational on Twitter.
