National Football League players Demairo Davis and Josh Norman will advocate for social justice at the first Dear America, a Social Justice Conversation conference, held at Bakersfield College.
Davis and Norman are the players who helped pay the bail of Jose Bello, a local immigrant rights advocate and BC student, after Bello was detained a second time just 36 hours after reciting his poem, “Dear America” at Kern’s second Truth Act Forum.
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His poem, titled “Dear America,” focused on injustices in detainment policies, frustrations with Trump Administration policies toward immigrants and the separation of families.
Bello’s poem read: “I’m here to let you know, we want to feel safe – whether we’re Brown, Asian, or Black.”
Bello was transported to Mesa Verde Detention Center, where he had been previously released on a $10,000 bond raised by the community. His new bond was set at $50,000, an amount the ACLU called, “hugely unjust.”
Normal and Davis will speak at the event about why they are passionate about social justice and will tell those attending how they can advocate for social justice in the Kern community.
There will also be a cultural art exhibit, music and speakers sharing local stories of social justice that affect all communities.
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The event runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Bakersfield College in the indoor theater. The event is free; however, space is limited. Those interested in attending can register here.
The event is sponsored by The Players Coalition, WOSMOH, Bakersfield College’s Youth Empowering Success (YES! BC) Student Organization, and Attis & Associates LLC.
Featured photo: Courtesy of Demario Davis/Facebook
South Kern Sol is a youth-led journalism organization in Kern County. In their stories, youth reporters shine light on health and racial disparities in under-served communities across Kern. For more stories by South Kern Sol, head to southkernsol.org.