I Am Headed to California to Support LA Fire Victims

Join me and Humanity First USA to provide pro bono legal relief and on the ground support to fire victims

As you read this I am en route to LA County with Humanity First USA to support victims of the LA fires. I have worked with Humanity First for decades, first deploying with them in 2005 to support those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Over the years I’ve traveled with Humanity First to Mali to help build schools and hospitals, to Guatemala to help expand a hospital, to Turkey for earthquake relief, and to Hawaii after the Lahaina fires. I consider it a privilege to continue to work with Humanity First now twenty years later in 2025. And, I invite you to donate to Humanity First USA to help us provide practical aid, supplies, and water to people suffering on the ground.

Experts estimate that these fires have caused at least $50 billion in damages. I am traveling to LA to provide legal support because I know what is about to happen—if it hasn’t already begun.

A quick story to explain.

Days after the 2023 Lahaina fires I flew to Hawaii to provide pro bono legal aid to fire victims. We navigated everything from home insurance and business contracts, to recovering legal documents, to managing immigration status, and more. In total I supported about 50 families, indeed a humbling experience. But one constant theme with each client left me shocked and angry.

Our Humanity First USA Legal and Logistical Assistant tent, where we were able to meet with and assist hundreds of families afflicted by the Lahaina fires.

Even before most had the chance to return to their homes to assess the extent of the damage and destruction, private equity vultures had begun to relentlessly call, harass, and pressure them to accept pennies on the dollar for their destroyed homes. Vultures exploiting people's desperation and depression. I worked with these families to ensure they understood their rights, protections, and options before making any decisions out of confusion or devastation. But these vultures were relentless.

Navigating through the steps a local family would need to take to ensure their insurance paperwork was filed timely and properly.

Thus, one big reason I am en route to the epicenter of the LA fires is that I suspect vulture capitalists will make the same attempts to exploit our already devastated neighbors, and I want to do my part to protect their humanity.

My takeaway from Lahaina was that we need better protections for people suffering under these disasters. People who have suddenly lost everything are not in a state of balance or security, and certainly not in a position to make life altering financial decisions. Too few protections exist right now, if any at all. That must change—because this injustice is not sustainable.

As a final note, I will do my best to provide updates while out here, but forgive me if you do not receive your daily updated post on Let’s Address This. I and my colleague attorneys will be doing our best to protect the rights and humanity of those we can. You can support our efforts by donating to Humanity First USA, a highly respected 501(c)3. Your donation is tax deductible as it counts as a charitable contribution.

(L) Qasim Rashid at 23 years old in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (R) Qasim Rashid at 41 years old in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Our nation becomes the more perfect Union it was meant to become when we act to recognize each other’s humanity. Thank you all for your continued trust, donations, support, and partnership to elevate each other’s humanity. As always, I welcome your subscription to Let’s Address This as we continue to advocate for absolute justice and universal human rights.