Remembering David Almond. Today, on the sixth anniversary of David Almond’s death, court papers were filed seeking approval of a $10 million settlement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But to me, David has never been just another tragic case or another example of DCF's failures. David was a 14-year-old boy, one of three triplet brothers who depended on adults to love, nurture and protect them. He deserved the same childhood, the same opportunities and the same safety as every other child. Instead, David was returned to a father and his girlfriend whose history of long term child abuse and inability to care for him were already known to DCF. Despite repeated warnings, the Department pursued family reunification at the cost of David's life. David was systematically starved, horrifically beaten and abused. On October 21, 2020, he died in deplorable conditions while still in the legal custody of the Commonwealth. He died slowly after months of starvation right under DCF's nose. I wrote about David in my book, A Cruel Injustice. I have spoken publicly about his suffering and the Commonwealth's failures because his life mattered, and because I refuse to allow his death to become just another statistic. The $10 million settlement may provide some measure of justice for his surviving brothers, but it cannot give David back the life that was taken from him. Today, I want people to remember something more important than the settlement. David Almond was a child. He deserved love, protection, dignity and a future. He deserved to live. And six years after his death, I remain determined that he will not be forgotten. I'll continue my fight for the creation of a Harmony Commission, a bill killed by Massachusetts lawmakers four times. They want you to forget David. Maybe they think $10 million will accomplish that. I won't forget you David. The fight continues.