Thread by @StefSimanowitz

1/. My friend, #EricLevy - an true activist & tireless campaigner for human rights - died today aged 93

I met Eric 19yrs ago when he signed up to be a human shield to try & stop the illegal invasion of Iraq

One of the most courageous people I know, I asked him about courage👇

2/. “I hate to see the evening sun go down”

While talking about courage, #EricLevy - who was active in the US Civil Rights movement told me how activists had surrounded activist & singer, Paul Robeson, to shield him from possible white supremacist snipers

3/. "We may have failed to stop the invasion, but by putting ourselves in harm’s way, we sent a clear message to the world"

#EricLevy was one of only about 80 human shields who stayed in Baghdad throughout the #IraqWar

10 years later, I interviewed him
vice.com/en/article/kw5…

4/. Over the decades, I’d often bump into #EricLevy in Camden where he lived or at demonstrations for social justice

After #JulianAssange was jailed, Eric was always at protests outside Belmarsh or the Old Bailey or the High Court, demanding his release

5/. “Sooner or later truth will prevail”

Last year, Eric was arrested outside an extradition hearing for #JulianAssange, but #Assange was just one of many injustices he fought against in his long life

I once asked him how it was that he remained so positive

This👇was his reply

6/. “I’ll say it again & keep saying it ‘til I’m dead”

Tarkovsky says: “Hardness & strength are death's companions. Pliancy & weakness are expressions of the freshness of being. Because what has hardened will never win”

Eric never hardened

He never became despondent or cynical

7/. “You call us courageous, but we are only doing what we have to do. We have no more choice in doing what we do than the sun has choice to rise each day...Perhaps that’s what courage is” (Emerson Warner)

I’d like to write an obituary for #EricLevy

If you knew him please DM me