April 7, 1947 – June 7, 2025
On a sunny August Saturday, dozens of movement elders, leaders, and comrades gathered in the Freedom & Movement Center to honor beloved comrade David Johnson. David, known by close friends as “G’iap” in honor of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader, died on June 7, 2025 in Texas. His revolutionary spirit will live on in all of us as we walk in his footsteps in the fight for liberation and justice.
David was remembered by comrades and fellow members of the San Quentin Six, Willie “Sundiata” Tate and Luis “Bato” Talamentez, as fiercely loyal, wise, and tenacious in the face of extreme state violence. In the Adjustment Center at San Quentin on August 21, 1971—the day that George Jackson was murdered by prison guards—David was one of the six Black and Brown prison activists baselessly indicted and charged for the murder of three guards and two prisoners on August 21, coming to be known as the San Quentin Six.
David embodied radical solidarity, epitomizing the complex history of Afro-Indigenous solidarity: as George Galvis said in a message to the memorial service attendees, “He had indigenous and Mexican roots from Tucson AZ and African roots, so in many ways, he epitomizes and really reflects the history of the struggle we’ve had fighting against the PIC. David continued and his legacy will continue.”
David joyfully inspired and participated in the Bike Giveaway, now the Community Giveback, as a proud member of the Timers. All of the work that we do today stems from the courage, defiance, and dedication of David Johnson and the San Quentin Six.
Rise in power, David. Your legacy will live on.
Heavy is the task of the freedom fighter, but heavier is the yoke of oppression. With perseverance and determination how can we lose?”
David Johnson in letter published by Freedom Archives. Access here.
I remember once, David being knocked out in the courtroom. We was in the holding cell and they opened the holding cell door. Me and David had been trying to decide who was gonna be in front. David moved my lil butt out the way, and they hit him in the head with a club and knocked David out. David is gone, and it’s just real sad… David was a very warm person in a lot of ways. David was somebody that did care about people. He was a good cook—I used to really enjoy eating his food. When I think about him, I miss his smile. He had a big smile when he smiled. Sometimes he’d like to lean on my shoulder when we talked, just put one elbow up there and talk to me. Just intimate things where you really enjoy those things that make you appreciate knowing David.”
Willie “Sundiata” Tate
You can find Letter from David Johnson c. 1972 here.
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