Blog
Behind the Jose Alba Campaign
Posted by Alex Shipley on Oct 8, 2025
Sometimes, one ordinary day becomes the moment that changes everything.
For Jose Alba, a quiet bodega worker in Harlem, that moment came on July 1, 2022. What began as a normal evening behind the counter of the Blue Moon convenience store ended in tragedy, arrest, and a fight for freedom that would capture national attention — and ultimately lead him to GiveSendGo.
Jose Alba wasn’t a man of fame or influence. He was a 61-year-old immigrant, known in his neighborhood for his calm demeanor and steady work ethic. That night, as he worked his usual shift, a confrontation broke out between him and a customer. Surveillance footage later showed the tense exchange escalate quickly. In the chaos, Alba grabbed a knife and stabbed the man who was attacking him, an act prosecutors would later describe as murder and others would call self-defense.
Within hours, Jose was in handcuffs. He was charged with second-degree murder and taken to Rikers Island. His bail was set at $250,000 — a staggering amount for a man who had spent decades earning a modest living behind a counter. The world around him changed overnight. What had been a moment of fear and survival turned into headlines, debate, and a legal nightmare that no ordinary worker could afford to face alone.
With mounting legal fees and the future of their father on the line, Alba’s family turned to crowdfunding to rally support for his defense. His son started a campaign on GFM, hoping that the public would stand with a man who had simply tried to protect himself at work.
But their hope was short-lived.
Citing a policy against raising funds for individuals charged with violent crimes, GFM removed the campaign. Supporters were stunned. The family’s only lifeline — their ability to ask for help — had been cut off.
Where could they turn when big tech platforms were deciding that their story wasn’t allowed to be told?
That’s when the Alba family found GiveSendGo.
On GiveSendGo, they could fundraise without fear of being silenced or censored. The campaign quickly gained traction, spreading across social media, local news, and community circles.
Donations began to pour in. But more than that — prayers, encouragement, and public support flooded the page. As the campaign grew, it drew national attention — not just to Jose’s case, but to a bigger issue: how far we’ve drifted when platforms decide who deserves help and who doesn’t.
“Charitable crowdfunding is a powerful tool that allows Americans to financially stand with fellow citizens facing daunting circumstances — people who have very few options and might otherwise be without hope,” said Heather Wilson, co-founder of GiveSendGo. “We created our platform to come to the aid of families like the Albas. The internet should drive freedom, not serve as a source of tyranny.” [Read Full GiveSendGo Press Release]
On July 19, 2022 — just 18 days after his arrest — prosecutors dropped the second-degree murder charge, acknowledging they could not prove homicide beyond a reasonable doubt. Jose was finally released from Rikers Island.
The news sparked both relief and reflection. The case had become about more than one man — it was about justice, fairness, and the right to defend oneself without being abandoned by the systems meant to protect you.
Jose Alba’s story reminds us that in a world quick to judge, people still deserve hope — and the chance to be heard. When every other platform shut the door, GiveSendGo stayed open. We didn’t decide whether Jose was right or wrong; that wasn’t our role. Our role was to give him — and his family — a place to ask for help without fear of being erased.
Because that’s what true freedom looks like.
And one day, any of us could find ourselves in the same position — misunderstood, under fire, and in need of others to stand with us. GiveSendGo exists for moments like that. To bring light where others shut the door. To protect the freedom to give, to share hope, and to rally help.
Additional Reading:
For Jose Alba, a quiet bodega worker in Harlem, that moment came on July 1, 2022. What began as a normal evening behind the counter of the Blue Moon convenience store ended in tragedy, arrest, and a fight for freedom that would capture national attention — and ultimately lead him to GiveSendGo.
When a Working Man’s Life Turned Upside Down
Jose Alba wasn’t a man of fame or influence. He was a 61-year-old immigrant, known in his neighborhood for his calm demeanor and steady work ethic. That night, as he worked his usual shift, a confrontation broke out between him and a customer. Surveillance footage later showed the tense exchange escalate quickly. In the chaos, Alba grabbed a knife and stabbed the man who was attacking him, an act prosecutors would later describe as murder and others would call self-defense.
Within hours, Jose was in handcuffs. He was charged with second-degree murder and taken to Rikers Island. His bail was set at $250,000 — a staggering amount for a man who had spent decades earning a modest living behind a counter. The world around him changed overnight. What had been a moment of fear and survival turned into headlines, debate, and a legal nightmare that no ordinary worker could afford to face alone.
When Crowdfunding Became the Only Hope
With mounting legal fees and the future of their father on the line, Alba’s family turned to crowdfunding to rally support for his defense. His son started a campaign on GFM, hoping that the public would stand with a man who had simply tried to protect himself at work.
But their hope was short-lived.
Citing a policy against raising funds for individuals charged with violent crimes, GFM removed the campaign. Supporters were stunned. The family’s only lifeline — their ability to ask for help — had been cut off.
Where could they turn when big tech platforms were deciding that their story wasn’t allowed to be told?
Finding a Place That Wouldn’t Turn Them Away
That’s when the Alba family found GiveSendGo.
On GiveSendGo, they could fundraise without fear of being silenced or censored. The campaign quickly gained traction, spreading across social media, local news, and community circles.
Donations began to pour in. But more than that — prayers, encouragement, and public support flooded the page. As the campaign grew, it drew national attention — not just to Jose’s case, but to a bigger issue: how far we’ve drifted when platforms decide who deserves help and who doesn’t.
“Charitable crowdfunding is a powerful tool that allows Americans to financially stand with fellow citizens facing daunting circumstances — people who have very few options and might otherwise be without hope,” said Heather Wilson, co-founder of GiveSendGo. “We created our platform to come to the aid of families like the Albas. The internet should drive freedom, not serve as a source of tyranny.” [Read Full GiveSendGo Press Release]
Charges Dropped
On July 19, 2022 — just 18 days after his arrest — prosecutors dropped the second-degree murder charge, acknowledging they could not prove homicide beyond a reasonable doubt. Jose was finally released from Rikers Island.
The news sparked both relief and reflection. The case had become about more than one man — it was about justice, fairness, and the right to defend oneself without being abandoned by the systems meant to protect you.
Why His Story Matters
Jose Alba’s story reminds us that in a world quick to judge, people still deserve hope — and the chance to be heard. When every other platform shut the door, GiveSendGo stayed open. We didn’t decide whether Jose was right or wrong; that wasn’t our role. Our role was to give him — and his family — a place to ask for help without fear of being erased.
Because that’s what true freedom looks like.
And one day, any of us could find ourselves in the same position — misunderstood, under fire, and in need of others to stand with us. GiveSendGo exists for moments like that. To bring light where others shut the door. To protect the freedom to give, to share hope, and to rally help.
Additional Reading:
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