Source: india.com
"A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart." — Zeus, Hercules
Last year on June, netizens hailed Rahul Dubey – an Indian-American, for giving shelter to more than 70 protestors in Washington DC.
The Incident
Violent protests were staged as a reaction to the shocking murder of the innocent 46-year old George Floyd in Minneapolis.
A week later a peaceful group of protesters near the residential area of Swann Street were risked of arrest for violating curfew that has been imposed as a result of the violent protests.
They were surrounded by police personnel and were attacked by tear gas and pepper spray.
It was then Rahul Dubey opened his doors to protect the faultless protesters.
The protesters left Dubey’s home when the district’s new curfew ended at 6 am.
“They (the police) unleashed sheer hell on peaceful protesters right outside my stoop. I don't know, I just flung the door open. And I just kept yelling, 'Come in. Get in the house, get in the house.'” Dubey told NPR.
Dubey’s Altruism
The police even started shooting pepper spray in through the window as well.
Stating to AP, Meka, as 22-year-old man from Virginia who spent the night at Dubey’s residence said that he was trying to keep everybody safe.
“The whole time he didn’t think of himself,” he said
“He was just trying to keep everybody safe, make sure we knew our rights and to make sure our spirits were lifted throughout the night,” Meka added.
Rahul even gave his business cards to the protestors in case if the police accused them of breaking in.
Gratitude from Around the World
People all around the globe praised and hailed Dubey for his selfless actions and was showered by gratitude tweets.
Many of them even stopped by his house to leave flowers and thank you cards.
There were cookies, flowers, and a bag that said “YOU’RE THE BEST. I ASKED EVERYONE AND WE ALL AGREED.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extolled Dubey and thanked him for what he did for the protesters.
“There’s Nothing Special About What I Did”.
Now that’s something what a real hero would say.
“I know most people would’ve flung open that door,” he told WUSA9.
In spite of all the praises he received Dubey however, told The Washington Post, that he did not believe what he did was anything “special”.
He feels that what the protestors did was something ‘special’ and looks forward that his 13-year-old son grows up to be “just as amazing as they are”.
Dubey said he felt the country was “lost” and “very fragile,” and chose to help because no one is “doing anything about it, except for these people.”
It’s going to be almost a year after the incident. Dubey’s generosity reminds us to raise our voices and to stand up for the oppressed boldly, without restrain.
Written by - Afra Meera Ahamed
Edited by - Gunika Manchanda
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