Darryl Williams (advocate)

Darryl K. Williams (January 28, 1964 - March 28, 2010) of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts and Milton, Massachusetts was an advocate for social justice, compassion and forgiveness as well as a local advocate for accessibility for persons with disabilities. As a 15-year-old African-American living in Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, Williams became the victim of a school shooting on September 28, 1979, in Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts while playing at a high school football game. Williams survived the shooting but was paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. Protests, rallies and school walkouts ensued in response, and racial tensions in the city of Boston escalated in the aftermath.

Despite the misfortunes, Williams earned a high school diploma and a college degree. He spoke to many thousands of Boston area high school students and others about gun violence and social justice in sports. Along the way, Darryl was awarded full scholarships to attend college and many civic honors for his advocacy efforts. Williams over the decades helped countless high school students and adults in and around Boston learn to accept people of all races.