Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 7-17-20

Feature
Former Tampan Stepping Out Front In Texas To Combat Injustices
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Reshard Hicks is in Killeen, Texas, stepping out front with pro- testers. He’s also giving peaceful protest advice to some of his Tampa acquaintances.
Although the general term is protesting, Hicks says, “we’re hold- ing events and sit-ins to be heard.”
When the protests began shortly after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Hicks stepped out before a group of about 2,500 to lead a peaceful protest. “There were no ar- rests and no property damages,” he proudly stated. Because of his peace- ful protests in Killeen, folks in Tampa have been asking for his advice.
Joining him was another Tampa native who the Sentinel featured a few weeks ago – Keke Williams, a re- tired Air Force Captain, and candi- date for the Texas House of Representatives (Dem.).
Reyshard Hicks with microphone and his co-founder Jonathan Hildner, right, at an event.
ing for change, but we have to vote to get change,” he said.
Hicks, 35, is a product of Tampa’s T. R. Robinson High School, where he participated in all sports. He was named the “2003 Athlete of the Year” in Hillsborough County. He went on to Fordham University after high school, and earned his degree in Exeercise Science from Corcordia University. He joined the Army, where he spent 7 years until he was medically retired.
A professional boxer whose cur- rent record is 12-1-1, Hicks is the General Manager for Title Boxing Club and Supplement Warehouse. His last fight was at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 13, 2019. He is also the founder of Freelance Fitness in Killeen.
Hicks’ Tampa family includes: his mother, Prince Washington, his 14-year-old daughter, Aiyana Hicks, and brother, Larry Hicks.
Hicks says, Texas is one of those states with a reputation of injustices, “but we want to show people that we know how to do things the right way. Things are happening in the city, and we can see the tide is changing. We want to continue our efforts of unity,” he said.
Hicks and Jonathan Hildner are working on their next project, “Let’s Vote, Killeen,” which they co- founded. Their goal is to have candi- dates speak to designated groups, and push for residents to get registered and out to vote.
“We want change and we’re push-
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020