David is a property manager for Heartland Housing. His experience working in senior living and supportive housing have been a perfect avenue for one as compassionate and caring as David – and it’s that same compassion that has compelled him to protest alongside thousands of others in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Why have you been compelled to act during this tumultuous time?
Watching the images of the murder of George Floyd and seeing the complete coldness in the eyes of the officer woke me up to the fact that racism is still alive and well in the U.S. As I saw the world respond by taking to the streets to have their voices heard, joining them in marching for justice was the least I could do. After all, I’ve been protesting since the days of apartheid, the Iraq war, and countless of other causes.
The issue of racial injustice and murder of Black lives was something I could not sit by and watch pass once again, like I have in the past. So, in spite of COVID-19, I marched alongside tens of thousands of young people (who wore masks) because this issue of injustice means more to me than staying safe at home.
What do you hope comes from this activism?
First and foremost, I hope that people educate themselves about how systemic racism is woven into the fabric of our society. We can’t stop there. We must learn to become anti-racist. Dr. Ibram Kendi has two excellent books:
- Stamped from the Beginning – a History of Racism in America (audio book currently free on Spotify)
- How to be an Anti-Racist
The other thing that must change from this activism is to remove racist policies within our political system. Another huge one is police reform, especially the power to remove bad cops from the system.
Do you have any tips or something you would like to say to others thinking about acting?
Thankfully, most protests are very peaceful so get out there, wear a mask and march for a cause. Also get involved in your local government to help change policy.
Listen to David’s book recommendation: Stamped from the Beginning, by Dr. Ibram Kendi:
