"The Man Who Gave Shelter to Those in Need On June 1."
Rahul Dubey, an Indian-American man has been hailed amongst the ‘Heroes of 2020’ by the TIME magazine.
Dubey sheltered nearly 70 protesters, demonstrating against the custodial killing of a black man named George Floyd.
TIME magazine described Dubey as “The Man Who Gave Shelter to Those in Need On June 1.”
Dubey open his doors for the crowd when they were being attacked with pepper-sprays and trapped inside the barricades set up by the police.
On the day of the incident Dubey had reportedly said:
“I open my door, and I start yelling, ‘Get in! All these people were swarming in.
“People were coughing, crying, strangers pouring milk into strangers’ eyes.”
Dubey accommodated a large number of people in his house, with some adjusting on the couch, whilst others finding space in the rooms.
Some pepper-sprayed protestors were happy to even get some rest on the ledges of the bathtub.
According to a report in the TIME magazine, Dubey claims police officers made several attempts to breach his sanctuary that evening, posing as protesters when trying to get inside.
The police even attempted to intercept the pizza delivery he had ordered for his houseguests.
The move to open his door was driven by instinct, Dubey says nearly six months later. It is was the need of the hour.
As the news of his kindness and generosity spread, people on social media had saluted his efforts to save his fellow citizens.
Some tweets from the incident:
Rahul Dubey took dozens of protesters into his home and sheltered them overnight while police waited outside to arrest them. Repeatedly refused to let the cops in. This morning they were able to leave freely. Be like Rahul. Don't cooperate with police thugs. https://t.co/B9QLop5TXT
— Carlos Maza (@gaywonk) June 2, 2020
Another user posted:
Rahul Dubey is an American Hero
"I'm not a hero, I opened a door" is what heroes say when fascists rule the streets.
Rahul Dubey: I know and honor your name
— John M Bennett (@JMB1122AZ) June 2, 2020
Dubey had told BuzzFeed News that he did not have much choice to open his door and provide refuge to the mostly young protesters.
He said: “If you had seen what was going on in front of my eyes, there was no choice.
“People were getting pepper-sprayed and beaten and slammed to the ground.
“I hope that my 13-year-old son grows up to be just as amazing as they are.”
‘Heroes of 2020’ by the TIME magazine honours those people who went all out this year.
The publication also named Australia’s volunteer firefighters who risked everything to keep their country safe.
Food-stall owners Jason Chua and Hung Zhen Long from Singapore who didn’t let anyone go hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic are also mentioned.
Pastor Reshorna Fitzpatrick and her husband Bishop Derrick Fitzpatrick of Chicago, who transformed their church to support their community during a difficult COVID-19 period are also amongst the Heroes of 2020.
A newspaper deliveryman, Greg Dailey, who began a grocery drop-off service in mid-March to the needy during his paper route was also recognised.
He supplied more than 140 homes and conducted over 1,000 grocery runs in New Jersey’s Mercer county.
From citizens providing food and shelter to those who protected their neighbours from natural disasters were named ‘Heroes of 2020’. Rahul Dubey and others went above and beyond the call of duty in 2020.
Loading ...