Ady Barkan: Progressive Activist with ALS Who Founded the Be a Hero PAC

Ady Barkan, 35, has been called “the most powerful activist in America.” In 2016, he was diagnosed with the debilitating and ultimately fatal disease ALS. Since then he’s dedicated himself to fighting for progressive healthcare and other causes. Barkan founded the Be a Hero PAC and helped organize the Center for Popular Democracy. Sadly, his health has deteriorated rapidly: He acknowledges he has only a very limited time to live.
 
Quotes: “I am no longer ruffled by quotidian [the daily] nonsense, or even by the onset of new symptoms, such as when, earlier this month, I stopped being able to feed myself. I have come to accept that my ALS is progressing faster than average, that my body is wasting away quickly, and that what I have today will soon be gone.” | “Senator, since my diagnosis, I have been thinking a lot about my legacy, I’m curious, what do you want your legacy to be after you eventually exit the stage of national politics? How do you want to be remembered?”
 
Sources: Wikipedia, Quote.net, The Nation
 
Read “I’m Dying. Here Is What I Refuse to Accept With Serenity” by Ady Barkan. >>
 
Watch “Ady Barkan Fights for Healthcare for All Amid Struggle with ALS” on ABC’s Nightline [9:12]. >>
 
Photo: People.com