February 12, 2026
Dear Friends and Neighbors in our beloved city, Santa Barbara:
Our team at Doctors Without Walls, Santa Barbara Street Medicine wish to express our stance on the atrocious occurrences impacting our fellow man.
In Remembrance and Protest:
We are deeply saddened and outraged by the unnecessary loss of life in our country. We speak specifically to the tragedies involving those members of our community who have been profiled, marginalized, and torn apart from their families. We mourn people like Rebecca Good and Alex Pretti, whose lives were wrongfully cut short.
We mourn all of the people who have been brutalized and denied care while in custody. DWW-SBSM is fundamentally opposed to the systemic failures and violence that lead to such senseless losses. When any member of our brotherhood is hurt, it is a wound to the collective health of our country.
We believe that true street medicine requires us to not only treat physical ailments but to stand against social injustices that threaten the safety and lives of our neighbors.
“To care for a person is to recognize their humanity. To protect a person is to demand a world where that humanity is never in question.”
Our Continued Promise:
We will continue to be present in the streets and parks to provide a sanctuary of care. We remain dedicated to being a voice for those who are often unheard, and a pillar of support for those in need.
We invite the Santa Barbara community to join us in fostering an environment of radical empathy and justice for all.
With care and commitment,
Priti Gagneja, MD,FACP
DWW Medical Director
