DeRay Mckesson is a prominent civil rights activist, author, and educator. Known for his leadership in the Black Lives Matter movement, he gained national attention during the Ferguson protests following the killing of Michael Brown in 2014. Mckesson co-founded Campaign Zero, an organization dedicated to ending police violence, and authored On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope. Frequently recognized for his advocacy, he has spoken at major forums and appeared on media platforms to discuss systemic racism and police reform. He currently hosts the Crooked Media podcast Pod Save the People.