Ady Barkan, a prominent healthcare and social activist who campaigned for universal health coverage and progressive causes in the US, died on November 1, 2023, at the age of 39. He had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2016, a terminal condition that gradually weakens the muscles and affects the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe.
Barkan’s life and legacy
Barkan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 18, 1983, to immigrant parents from Romania and Israel. He grew up in a secular Jewish household and held dual US and Israeli citizenship. He attended Columbia College, where he studied economics and political science, and Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2010.
He worked as a lawyer and organizer for the Center for Popular Democracy, a network of grassroots groups that advocates for social justice and democracy. He led several campaigns on issues such as immigration rights, economic equality, criminal justice reform and environmental justice. He also co-founded the Fed Up campaign, which challenged the Federal Reserve to adopt policies that benefit low-income and working-class people.
Ady Barkan rose to national prominence in 2017, when he confronted Senator Jeff Flake on a plane and asked him to vote against a tax bill that would cut funding for healthcare programs. He recorded the encounter on his phone and posted it online, where it went viral and drew attention to his cause. He later launched the Be a Hero PAC, a political action committee that supports progressive candidates and policies, especially Medicare for All, a proposal to provide universal health coverage in the US.
Barkan used his diagnosis of ALS as a catalyst for his activism, rather than a deterrent. He continued to speak out and organize events, even as he lost his ability to walk and talk. He used a computerized voice system to communicate and a wheelchair to move around. He testified before Congress in 2019, urging lawmakers to pass Medicare for All and other reforms. He also interviewed several presidential candidates in 2020, including Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.
Ady was the subject of a documentary film titled Not Going Quietly, which premiered at the South by Southwest festival in 2021. The film chronicled his journey from diagnosis to activism, highlighting his courage, humor, and resilience. He also wrote a memoir called Eyes to the Wind: A Memoir of Love and Death, Hope and Resistance, which was published in 2019.
Barkan is survived by his wife Rachael King, a professor of English at the University of California Santa Barbara, and their two children Carl and Willow. His wife announced his death on X (formerly Twitter), saying that he died from complications of ALS. She also thanked his caregivers, supporters and fellow activists for their help and solidarity.
Various Profiles
Twitter – @AdyBarkan
Instagram – @adybarkan
Wikipedia – @Ady_Barkan
Facebook – @ady.barkan
Factynews Home – Click Here
The impact of Ady Barkan’s activism
Barkan’s activism inspired many people across the US and beyond, who admired his passion, determination, and optimism. He mobilized thousands of people to join his movement for healthcare justice and democracy. He also raised awareness and funds for ALS research and advocacy. He received several awards and honors for his work, including being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
Ady Barkan’s activism also had an impact on the political landscape of the US. He helped shape the public debate on healthcare reform and influenced the platforms of some presidential candidates. He also endorsed several progressive candidates who won elections at various levels of government. He was widely regarded as a leader and a hero of the progressive movement.
It also challenged the stigma and stereotypes associated with ALS and other disabilities. He showed that people with disabilities can still be active agents of social change and contribute to society in meaningful ways. He also advocated for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, calling for more accessibility, inclusion and support.
His activism also demonstrated the power of storytelling and communication as tools for social change. Ady Barkan used various media platforms, such as social media, podcasts, videos, and books, to share his story and his vision with millions of people. He used humor, emotion, and logic to persuade and inspire his audience. He also engaged in dialogue with people from different backgrounds and perspectives, seeking common ground and mutual understanding.
It also embodied the values of health activism, which is defined as action on behalf of a cause that goes beyond what is conventional or routine to challenge the existing order whenever it is perceived to lead to a social injustice or health inequality (Laverack 2012). Barkan used a range of tactics that varied according to the function, structure, and purpose of those trying to redress the imbalance of power that created the situation in the first place. He combined grassroots organizing with lobbying, direct action with media outreach, and personal testimony with policy analysis.
Conclusion
Ady Barkan was a remarkable healthcare and social activist who dedicated his life to fighting for a better world, even as he faced a terminal illness. He left behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and hope that will continue to inspire and motivate many people for years to come. He also left behind a challenge for us to follow his example and be heroes in our own ways, by standing up for what we believe in and working together for the common good. As he said in his memoir
We can be the heroes of our own stories, and we can also be the heroes of each other’s stories.
