Activist Angela Davis speaks at Cal Poly to kick off social justice conference

Political and social activist Angela Davis spoke at Cal Poly on Saturday to launch the 18th annual Change the Status Quo Social Justice Leadership Conference.

The author, educator and National Women’s Hall of Fame honoree shared a message urging people to work collectively to create more equitable and just institutions for all.

About 700 people came to hear Davis talk at the morning keynote at the Cal Poly Recreation Center.

“You know, history is made by ordinary people,” Davis, 76, told the crowd.

“When ordinary people join together to create movements, they make change happen. We join social movements in order to transform our relatively powerless individual selves into a great collective self.”

After Davis’ address, the day continued with workshops and sessions designed to empower attendees to challenge social norms, ask critical questions, demand solutions and make lasting social change.

This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 7:46 PM.