Why have America's change-makers become categorized as “controversial”? Rockland community members used this adjective, among many others, to deter North Rockland High School from hosting political activist Dr. Angela Davis on December 1st, 2022 in an off-campus event.
North Rockland’s activism club, VOICE, announced a plan to host Dr. Davis at school, sparking community outrage. According to Lohud, when the plans of Dr. Davis’s appearance spread, individuals took to Facebook to share “the FBI ‘Most Wanted’ poster issued when [Angela Davis] went into hiding in 1970” and pointed “to her past affiliation with the Communist Party and made unsubstantiated claims that she was somehow connected to the 1981 Brinks robbery in Rockland that killed two Nyack police officers and a Brinks guard.”
Following North Rockland’s cancellation, Nicole Hines, president of the Nyack NAACP, came to the rescue. She, as well as other passionate leaders in Nyack, found a venue and made sure that the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from a social justice pioneer was not lost.
Dr. Davis finally stood in front of Pilgrim Baptist church, packed with students and community members. After thanking Nyack and the Black Church, she opened with her background as an author, member of the Black Panther Party, and spearhead of the feminist and racial justice movements.
She shared stories of being on the FBI’s most wanted list, being under arrest, and staying in a detention center. She said that in her cell, she thought she was going crazy because she could hear faint voices in her head repeating “Free Angela Davis.” She later found out that people had flooded the streets, chanting outside of the jail, protesting her arrest. Throughout her speech, Davis continued to emphasize the importance of community support.
Davis spoke on the school-to-prison pipeline, racism and cissexism. Although she outlined the work left to do, she marveled at the strides America has taken since she joined the fight.
She closed, beseeching the audience to support Black women, and to advocate, spread awareness, and get involved in progressive movements. She was met with multiple standing ovations, questions, and tears.
This speech wasn’t controversial. It was uplifting, exhilarating and exactly what our county needed to hear. It was radical in the best way possible.