In the 1950s and
1960s, he marched to desegregate a swimming pool in
Cincinnati. He and his wife participated in voter
registration drives, sit-ins, and freedom rides, and they
hosted fundraising events at their home to support the
civil-rights movement. He was inducted into the Ohio Civil
Rights Hall of Fame for decades of "advocating for equality
and justice not only in Cincinnati, but throughout the
country."
Now, at 86 years old, Abramson wanted to do something to
show solidarity with those protesting systemic racism,
police brutality, and the death of George Floyd, the
46-year-old black man who died under the weight of a
Minneapolis police officer's knee in late May. He thought
about attending a protest but worried about the crowds, his
age, and the risk of COVID-19.
That led Abramson to ask his granddaughter, Arley Hunt, to
help him write "Black Lives Matter" in chalk paint on the
sliding glass door that leads to the balcony of his Mid
Beach condo. It wasn't long before neighbors confronted him
and complained to management. Staff at his Collins Avenue
building told him to remove the sign.
Property manager Luis Tijerino tells New Times he supports
Abramson's message but had to enforce the association's
rules. |
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Miami Beach
resident Roger Abramson wanted
to show support for the Black
Lives Matter movement from his
condo.
|
"Our rules and
regulations say not to display anything on the windows," he
says. "[Condos are] shared use. What goes for one goes for
all."