Remembering Our Friend & Comrade Carl Stubbs.
Our hearts are heavy, and we are heartbroken to share that our beloved friend, Carl Stubbs, has passed.
Carl
was surrounded by loved ones in his own home when he passed Friday
morning after battling cancer. In recent weeks, he was visited by so
many who loved him, and there was an outpouring of love and support from
across the nation. Alongside our grief,
we
also want to celebrate Carl’s life. He was an invaluable leader with
VOCAL-NY and an enormous icon in the movement for care, compassion,
justice, and a democracy for the people. Carl
led campaigns through his immense lived experience to end AIDS &
hep C in New York, legalize marijuana, close Rikers, end the collateral
consequences of incarceration, open Overdose Prevention Centers, tax the
rich, and give to the poor – and so many more. He also was adamant that
we must elect people who will fight for a world that is just. You could
find him door-knocking, educating people on candidates, and he
constantly reminded us of the importance of holding them accountable
once they got into
office. Carl loved being in community
in every way. He loved cooking – we often joked he would sometimes make
enough deviled eggs to feed the whole block. He loved giving gifts –
both through wisdom, love, and laughter, and things we didn’t even know
we needed. He loved organizing and building movements through joy and
direct action – from dancing at get-togethers, to the halls of
government and in the streets. He was always there demanding what is
right and just. Carl was also a regular on our hiring committees,
routinely asking prospective applicants if they had been arrested before
and what was their greatest fear. And, he always reminded us all to
love big and take care of
ourselves and each other. Carl would want
us to continue to share the stories of him, the fights we fought
together, and the funny little things he did that made him the friend
and comrade we all deeply loved. He’d want us to carry the same fire and
light for justice and love in our hearts and keep fighting. We
will honor Carl through hope and faith that we can win the world he was
building and through our commitment to joy until we get there. And we
will continue to honor him everyday in our work and the fight to make
sure no one goes through what he went through. If
you feel so inclined, please share with us memories and mementos
that we can add to our memorial. If you would like to offer financial
support to Carl’s family for arrangements, you can venmo @carlstubbs.
With love,
VOCAL-NY family.
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