Young Concordians should follow the ‘shining example’ of our elders

I am grateful to the hundreds of Concordians who attended the demonstration in Acton Center on January 10 to protest the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. At the same time, I am continually disheartened that the demographic of this and other political activities in the area, whatever the cause, skews so far to the elders in our community. There were notably few of us middle-aged or younger, and no more than a handful under 20. 

Our lives are busy. We have mortgages to pay and children to shuttle to sports and other activities. But what is more important than teaching our kids to fight for their rights and take ownership of their futures? Protesting injustice is not only a sacred right but it is also our civic responsibility. 

If seeing videos of a mother shot by a masked agent does not inspire us to rise up in fear and anger and solidarity, what will? We cannot rely on our elders to do the job for us. We must follow their shining example. We owe it to the legacy of Acton, to our neighbors, and to ourselves. 

David Schwartz

Cambridge Turnpike