Dion Diamond

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Dion Tyrone Diamond (born February 7, 1941) is an American civil rights activist.

Early life

Dion Diamond was born February 7, 1941, in

The Freedom Riders were a group of American Civil Rights Activists who protested segregated bus terminals. The Freedom Riders protested by completing bus rides throughout the South. On these bus trips, freedom riders would often stop at different bus stops and attempt to use the white only restrooms or lunch counters as a way of opposing segregation in the south. The riders experienced horrific police brutality and other violent acts by white counter protestors. One notable freedom rider was John Lewis, who experienced a violent attack when trying to enter a white only waiting area. Diamond was a part of the freedom ride in Anniston, Alabama on May 14, 1961. An angry mob of approximately 200 white people waited upon the arrival of the freedom riders. The tires of the bus blew out and when this happened, one of the white protesters threw a bomb onto the bus, and the bus exploded as the Freedom Riders were just able to escape. After they escaped, many were beaten by the white mob members. This called for the Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy to talk with governors of Mississippi and Alabama, so the freedom riders would have police escorts during their next ride from Montgomery to Jackson. Just ten days later, on May 24, 1961, the Freedom Riders began their ride from Montgomery to Jackson with the national guard and police escorting them. These freedom rides called for nationwide attention and created much support from the Freedom Riders.^[1] The Freedom Riders influenced many black people to attempt to use white only areas. Diamond has mentioned how the state penitentiary ran out of space because of the mass amounts of Freedom Riders who were arrested.^[2]

Personal life

Diamond started his own consulting firm. He worked for a company called HEW and helped design an instrument that helped determine fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid program. This exposed doctors and pharmacies who were getting away with theft. He also worked as a consultant for different government agencies, where he worked in race relations. While working for government agencies, his job consisted of discerning segregated powers and influencing companies to have a more diverse clientele. Diamond retired around age 60, and has now been retired for around 20 years. Diamond mentioned how if he was not involved with civil rights, he would not have attended Wisconsin, Harvard or been able to have his own consulting firm, in which he worked with companies in race relations.^[2] Diamond currently lives in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Comments on Black Lives Matter

When asked about the Black Lives Matter protests, which have been common within the 2010s and 2020s, Diamond said he sees it as a continuation of his work and others of the 1960s civil rights movement. Diamond also acknowledges the people who came before him in the post World War II generation. Diamond believes they largely influenced his generation to be strong enough to start the Civil Rights movement.^[3] Diamond also mentions the importance of generational activism. He explains how he has not been as active with protesting or educating the youth in his older age, but stresses the importance of how activism needs to be passed down through generations. He mentioned the similarities between Trump rallies and Ku Klux Klan rallies. He notes that the United States has come a long way, but still does not believe they are close to having a total integrated society. Diamond said that what came before these newer generations is important to note because your past defines your future. Diamond is proud to see the amount of elected black governmental officials in the 21st century, which he notes is a large progression from when he was growing up. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the election of President Barack Obama are the highlights of his life because he never expected to see the amount of black elected officials that are in office today.^[2] Diamond has mentioned that he does not regret anything he has done, but instead regrets not doing more in his older age. He says it is important for younger people to educate him, and feels he can learn more from them, than they can from him.^[3]

References