Manchester arson victim given ‘life and hope’ after overwhelming fundraising response
By Alice Wood
David Kamson’s food van was torched in a suspected racially-aggravated attack. Luckily, he says he will come back stronger. He thanked the public’s generosity after a successful GoFundMe campaign that has now raised more than £80,000 to help rebuild his business.
On the 22nd of September, the popular Moston entrepreneur was horrified to find his much-loved trailer reduced to ashes in an incident the police are treating as “racially aggravated criminal damage”.
Supporters in Manchester and around the world have now raised almost £100,000. A kind stranger, Jolus Lutete, organised a GoFundMe campaign, pledging to “give racists a reason to frown, and David a reason to smile”.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Moston Suya (@mostonsuya) on
“It was a no brainer,” Jolus told The Mancunion. “I felt obliged to help because not only did I feel that it was my duty as a Christian, but I could also relate to him as a small business owner.
“I hope this story encourages [people] to help others when in need,” even if you don’t know or like the person, she added.
The page has since garnered over 7,300 donors, with contributors from the USA and Australia wishing him luck.
Since moving to the UK four years ago, entrepreneurial David has built his business selling suya, a West African delicacy made with spicy skewered meat. He has also made it his mission to help the homeless people of Moston by serving them food free of charge.
According to an Instagram post made by David, he was subject to racially-motivated theft and criminal damage prior to the attack.
Despite the horrific ordeal that almost cost David his business, he remains optimistic about the goodness of people in the UK. He wrote on Instagram: “We’re United Kingdom and We Unite Against Racism”.
We asked David what he thought of the seismic international response that restored his livelihood.
David replied that because of the kindness of strangers, he has a hopeful attitude towards the future: “This community response shows the quantum of love and humanity that exists within the walls of England. It just needs to spread more.”
David’s new Moston Suya catering trailer, fittingly named ‘Phoenix’, opened to the public on October 25th in Albine Street car park off Moston Lane, with a menu of suya, chicken, fish, and jollof rice.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2Z7efnXTz/
How to donate and support the Black Lives Matter movement during Black History Month:
- Watch Professor Gary Younge, university lecturer and journalist, discuss black achievement on this livestream
- Join this recurring quiz on Black Lives Matter hosted by the Students’ Union every week of October
- Read and watch your way through lockdown with Dazed’s list of anti-racism resources here
- Read Jacklin Kwan’s guide to protesting safely during lockdown here
- Donate to this GoFundMe to demand justice for Breonna Taylor
- Donate to the Louisville Community Bail Fund
- Sign this petition to stop the deportation of Osime Brown, an autistic black man
- Read Serafina Kenny’s opinion piece on why curriculums must be diversified here
- Find a full list of petitions demanding justice for black lives on Change.org here
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