In Solidarity

What’s been happening the last couple of weeks in our country has been excruciating for me to watch.  My heart is with the peaceful protestors who have stood in solidarity after the death of George Floyd while he was in police custody.  But because of Covid-19, I simply don’t feel comfortable interacting with groups larger than four people.  NC has made national news very recently, and my fears sound like they are being proven.  The number of cases and casualties seems to be increasing, and I’m concerned about another wave.

I feel strongly that people with disabilities have a responsibility to stand with people of color and other disenfranchised minorities during a time of uncertainty and strife.   If you know the history of disability rights in the US, we owe other minorities a debt of gratitude.  They helped our movement in very difficult times in the past.  One example I like bringing up is when we had one of our most massive and significant protests in San Francisco.   It was a sit-in in support of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973, in which about 150 participants didn’t leave the federal building for almost 25 days.  I don’t know of any way possible for them to stay that long without the assistance of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Glide Memorial Church, The Gay Men’s Butterfly Brigade, and other civil rights groups and labor unions within the San Francisco area.  They helped to feed protestors, gave mattresses and sheets, aided with basic healthcare, and offered transportation to DC. 

I am thrilled to see several major disability rights organizations offer public support in the form of statements.  The organization I help lead is putting a lot of work into improving our understanding and support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Since I can’t use my body to protest at the time, I’m trying to read everything I can to improve my behavior and understanding.  I plan to read every single book I have on the subject of racism, even the ones I’ve read many times.

My next thought is odd coming from me, a white straight male, but the disability rights movement as a whole needs to diversify its leadership.  Truthfully speaking, it has had mainly white people leading the effort.  We need to work harder to raise our minority voices within.  I know there’s been a lot of leaders who are people of color, but unfortunately, I don’t know their stories as well as others.   We have to fix that, and I hope that this turbulent time allows for a reexamination of our leadership and priorities as a movement.  I’ve done my best to try and be inclusive and supportive.  I did a lot of diversity work during my tenure at Guilford College and participated in many protests.   I stood with my committee against bigotry towards the LGBTQ+ community, and I worked on the school’s diversity action committee for multiple years.  I was also the student newspaper’s diversity coordinator. 

I’ve learned during my time in the disability rights movement that our story is the best tool that we have.  So maybe it’s time to hear more stories from people of color.  I pledge always to listen and support where I can. 

That’s how I roll…