Brad Will facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brad Will
|
|
|---|---|
Brad Will performing at Dreamtime Village in the 1990s.
|
|
| Born |
Bradley Roland Will
June 14, 1970 Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
|
| Died | October 27, 2006 (aged 36) Oaxaca, Oax., Mexico
|
| Education | Allegheny College (B.A. in English) |
| Occupation | Activist, videographer, journalist |
|
Notable credit(s)
|
Indymedia |
Bradley Roland Will (born June 14, 1970 – died October 27, 2006) was an American activist, videographer (someone who records videos), and journalist. He worked with Indymedia, a network for independent news. On October 27, 2006, Brad Will was in Oaxaca, Mexico. He was documenting a workers' protest when he was shot and killed. It is believed that groups linked to the government might have been involved.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Brad Will was born in Evanston, Illinois. He grew up in Kenilworth. He finished high school in 1988. Later, he went to Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. There, he earned a degree in English.
In the early 1990s, he often attended a summer writing program. This program was at Naropa University. He also helped teach there. In 1995, he moved to Manhattan, New York. He lived in empty buildings, which is called squatting. Later, he moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Activism and Journalism
Working for Change in the U.S.
While at Naropa University, Brad Will took part in a protest. It was a performance to make fun of some conservative Christian groups. These groups wanted to limit gay rights in Colorado. Will pretended to marry another man. This was part of a parade in front of a large Christian event.
In New York City, Will joined the squatters' movement. This movement helped people live in empty buildings. He also became involved in freeganism. This is a way of life where people try to live outside the normal economy. They might collect and eat food that stores throw away.
He also worked to protect community gardens. These are shared gardens in cities. He fought against the city tearing down these gardens. Will was active in many protests across the country. He supported social justice and human rights. He also joined environmental groups like Earth First!. He even participated in a tree-sitting protest in Oregon.
Will became known for trying to stop a building demolition. He stood on the roof of a building in New York City. This building was a café and meeting place. His actions delayed the demolition. But the city eventually tore the building down. Will later spoke about how people had fixed up the building. He said they made it "alive" again.
Will believed in media that was not controlled by big companies. He hosted his own show on a pirate radio station. This station was based in the Lower East Side.
In 1998, he spoke about protecting forests. He also talked about stopping gentrification in Manhattan. Gentrification is when a neighborhood changes and becomes more expensive. He helped organize "Buy Nothing Day". This day encourages people not to buy things. He also helped with a "Reclaim the Streets" protest in Times Square.
Will traveled to Seattle for the 1999 WTO protests. These were big protests against the World Trade Organization. He was a long-time member of the Direct Action Network. He also worked with the Independent Media Center in New York City.
In his later years, Will started making documentary videos. He shared these videos online through the Indymedia network. In 2006, he filmed many demonstrations. This included a protest at the Mexican Consulate. He also filmed a protest against Victoria's Secret. He was working on a documentary about folk punk music when he died.
Global Activism
In 2000, Brad Will visited the Czech Republic. He attended a protest in Prague. This protest was against the International Monetary Fund Summit. He then traveled through South America. He took part in anti-globalization movements there. He visited countries like Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil.
His Death
Brad Will went to Oaxaca, Mexico, in October 2006. He was there on a tourist visa. His goal was to film and document a teachers' strike. On October 27, he was filming near a protest barricade. He was shot twice.
In the last moments of his video, you can hear voices in Spanish. They demand that he stop filming. A gunshot is heard, and then a scream. The camera falls to the ground, and the video ends.
Will died while people tried to get him medical help. Two other people, Esteban Zurita López and Emilio Alonso Fabián, also died. Many others were hurt. In total, 26 protesters were killed during this time. A special investigation later called his death an "extrajudicial execution". This means he was killed without a proper trial or legal process.
On October 29, 2006, the mayor of Oaxaca spoke about the shooting. He said that four local officials were being held. They were connected to the shooting.
Aftermath and Tributes
Federal Police Arrive
On the day Brad Will was shot, the Oaxaca airport was closed. Federal Police arrived to take control of the city. The army also helped the police with information. Protesters said they would resist the government's actions. In early November, there were still violent clashes between protesters and police. The government stated that the police who entered Oaxaca were not armed.
Protests at Mexican Consulates
On October 30, over 200 people protested in New York City. They gathered outside the Mexican consulate. A consulate is an office that helps citizens of one country who are visiting another. They protested the killing of Brad Will and others. They demanded an end to the violence. A group called "The Friends of Brad Will" organized this protest.
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is a group that protects journalists' rights. On October 30, they sent a letter to Mexico's attorney general. They asked the Mexican government to investigate Will's death. They said a special prosecutor had started gathering information.
Remembering Brad Will
On November 11 and 12, 2006, "Friends of Brad Will" held an event in New York City. It was to remember Brad Will's life. A memorial service was held at St Mark's Church in-the-Bowery. About 250 people attended. There were also speeches and concerts. Outside the church, there was "freegan" food. There was also a pile of Will's belongings. People were asked to take something from the pile.
Afterward, there was a procession through the East Village. It was described as "joyful and noisy." The march ended with people entering an old building. They briefly danced, wrote graffiti, and spun fire bolas.
Song About Brad
The musician David Rovics wrote a song about Brad Will's life and death. The song is simply titled 'Brad'.
See also
- 2006 Oaxaca protests
- Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO)
- List of journalists killed in Mexico
